Arsenal ‘monitoring’ Manchester City defender ahead of potential £40 million summer swoop

Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo could emerge as a potential summer transfer target for Premier League rivals Arsenal.

The 29-year-old is currently at La Liga heavyweights Barcelona on a season-long loan, however the long-term future of the Portugal full-back is subject to uncertainty as a result of continued financial woes at the Catalan club.

Cancelo, who quit Manchester City for Bayern Munich in January 2023 after a rumoured training ground bust-up, moved to the Camp Nou in September but is contracted at the Etihad Stadium until 2027.

The full-back penned a new long-term deal less than 12 months before leaving east Manchester, with Cancelo having not made a competitive appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side since a 2-1 loss to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

The Portugal international has made 32 appearances for Barcelona so far this season, including 24 La Liga showings and eight in the UEFA Champions League, but could be priced out of a permanent move to Spain.

Cancelo made 154 appearances and won two Premier League titles at the Etihad Stadium, and is expected to permanently depart Manchester City during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Barcelona are widely reported to be planning to try and agree a deal for the Portuguese international ahead of the new campaign, however should a deal fail to materialise, Premier League rivals Arsenal could be ready to pounce.

The Gunners are ‘monitoring the progress of any breakdown in talks’ between Manchester City and Barcelona and could make a £40 million transfer offer, according to the information of Manchester City insider ‘Tolmie’s Hairdoo’ on X.

Arsenal have made previous transfer agreements with City in the past, with both Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko swapping the Etihad Stadium for the Emirates.

Manchester City and Arsenal battled for the signature of former West Ham captain Declan Rice last summer, and are also currently amidst a Premier League title race, with just one point separating Arsenal, Liverpool and City.

Mikel Arteta’s side travel to the Etihad Stadium next weekend in the Premier League, and the two English club’s could also clash in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals next month.