João Cancelo set for Manchester City exit after loan deal agreement reached with Bayern Munich | OneFootball

João Cancelo will leave Manchester City before the climax of this January transfer window, joining Bayern Munich on loan for the remainder of the 2022/23 season with an option to make the deal permanent.

This was first exclusively reported by David Ornstein and Pol Ballus of The Athletic on Monday afternoon, following speculation over the full-back’s future at the club, after he had lost his place in the City starting eleven, with reports of unrest emerging.

Jack Gaughan added, that Cancelo had become ‘vocal’ and ‘disruptive’ in the Blues camp, having allegedly had ‘heated discussions’ with his manager Pep Guardiola. A ‘furious training ground bust-up’ between the pair also took place, reported by the Daily Mail’s Gaughan and Mike Keegan, who have also claimed that the club are now ‘seeking a replacement’.

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This deal will reportedly have an option to make the deal permanent for €70million (as per Simon Bajkowski and Jack Gaughan), which would be the Bavarian giants’ second highest transfer fee ever paid.

The Portugal international, who has made 154 appearances for the club since his 2019 arrival from Juventus, scoring nine goals in that time, would be linking up with former teammate Leroy Sané at the Allianz Arena.

Cancelo was named in the PFA team of the season for both the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns, seasons which saw him win consecutive Premier League titles and a Carabao Cup in sky blue.

With the 28-year-old’s imminent departure, the question on most fans’ lips is whether a replacement will be brought in late in the window at the Etihad.

If the former Valencia and Inter Milan man does depart, the Premier League champions would be left with only Kyle Walker and Rico Lewis as recognised right-backs, and Sergio Gomez at left-back, with the in-form Nathan Aké expected to take the starting spot on the left of the backline.

According to Simon Bajkowski, Chief Manchester City writer for the Manchester Evening News, the club feel they have ‘enough cover’ without Cancelo.

So far in this window, the Citizens have made just one signing, welcoming young Argentine Maximo Perrone to Manchester; perhaps he may be given a chance to audition for that left-back role. But for now it appears that City will not be replacing Cancelo. Whether that weakens their title defence remains to be seen.