Barcelona close in on Manchester City signing – Details on transfer remain unknown | OneFootball

Manchester City are closing in on yet another transfer agreement that will see Joao Cancelo leave the club for the 2024/25 season, and potentially beyond.

The Portugal international is being kept away from Pep Guardiola’s first-team squad once again this season, with no intention to work on previous personal issues or a reintegration into Manchester City’s plans.

It will be the third consecutive season that Cancelo has taken steps away from the Etihad Stadium, having left the club on a six-month loan deal to Bayern Munich, before spending the 2023/24 campaign with FC Barcelona.

And the La Liga giants have returned with an interest to bring the 30-year-old back to their club ahead of the new season, despite a change in manager and possibly a tactical philosophy from Hansi Flick.

But it remains to be seen how Barcelona will finance a move, with Manchester City unlikely to reduce their asking price too much given the player’s contractual situation and his current deal running until the summer of 2027.

Nevertheless, according to a new report from Rob Dawson for ESPN, whilst detailing Manchester City’s agreed deal to sell Yan Couto to Borussia Dortmund, FC Barcelona are now closing in on a fresh deal to re-sign Joao Cancelo from the Etihad Stadium.

The Premier League champions will also hold no plans to replace Joao Cancelo with a similar profile of player this summer, with Pep Guardiola and his coaching staff content in their existing options in the first-team squad.

Club captain Kyle Walker is likely to remain as the first-choice right-back for the upcoming season, with support and back-up from Rico Lewis, who is able to offer a very different approach to the role by inverting into defensive midfield when in possession.

Elsewhere and Pep Guardiola could also turn to the likes of John Stones and Manuel Akanji for more defensive assurance in the right-back berth, or even operate with a defensive trio of centre-backs for some contests.

City could yet purchase a new left-back however, with New York City FC’s Christian McFarlane understood to be closing in on an agreement with the Premier League champions over a deal that would see the 17-year-old join the club upon turning 18 years of age.