Arsenal
Premier League • England
Stunning Arsenal raid on Man City ramps up, as Arteta guns for superstar who’s played his last game for Guardiola
Arsenal interest in signing a Man City superstar who’s at odds with Pep Guardiola has been confirmed, while a report has also detailed one potential sticking point.
The headlines at the Emirates this summer are expected to be dominated by who arrives in midfield. Indeed, the Times recently reported Arsenal have greenlit moves for both Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice.
Deals on both fronts now look more difficult than they were a week ago. Indeed, Bayern Munich are providing stiff competition for Rice, while Chelsea are poised to ramp up their interest in Caicedo after missing out on Manuel Ugarte who’ll join PSG.
However, away from the engine room, additions are also wanted at centre-half and full-back. Regarding the latter, few players would come with as big of a reputation as Joao Cancelo of Man City.
The 29-year-old was named in successive PFA Teams of the Year between 2021-22. His attacking impact from full-back is perhaps behind only Liverpool pair Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold over the last three seasons.
However, Guardiola fiddled with his formation mid-season and switched to a 3-2-4-1. After unsuccessfully trialling Cancelo in a more advanced position on the right wing, the Portuguese was unceremoniously sent on loan to Bayern Munich in January.
Speculation of a rift between Cancelo and Guardiola did the rounds. Cancelo reportedly did not take kindly to being dropped to the bench in the weeks leading up to the January window either side of the World Cup.
Bayern have since confirmed they won’t trigger the €70m option to buy in Cancelo’s loan. As such, he’ll return to the Etihad, though perhaps not for long.
Indeed, trusted reporter Ben Jacobs previously told TEAMtalk “there’s a very strong possibility that Cancelo doesn’t play another game for Man City.”
Real Madrid have expressed interest, though according to Sky Sports News, joining Arsenal is possible.
Arsenal want Cancelo; price could be an issue
They state Arsenal ‘remain interested’ in a move for the full-back who can operate on both flanks.
As such, he could kill two birds with one stone and simultaneously allow makeshift right-back Ben White to revert to centre-half and cover for exit-linked left-back, Kieran Tierney.
However, before Arsenal fans can get their hopes up, Sky add early indications suggest there’s a gap between what Man City would command for Cancelo and what Arsenal are prepared to pay.
No figures are cited, though other outlets have speculated at the numbers involved.
Indeed, Football Transfers reported City value Cancelo around the £60m mark. That would make sense given that is roughly what Cancelo’s buy option at Bayern was set at.
£60m would represent a hefty investment in a player who is already 29 years of age. However, it cannot be argued Cancelo is as proven as they come in the Premier League and would add a new dimension to Arsenal’s right-back position in particular.
Ultimately, whether Arsenal are able to stump up a fee Man City would accept could come down to how much they spend on the midfield additions that will take priority.
City have shown a willingness to sell to Arsenal in the past, most notably with Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus.
Whether they’ll be as receptive to a Gunners bid for Cancelo after subsequently becoming their main title challengers this season, only time will tell.