Jorge Mendes planning to ‘pressure’ Manchester City into agreeing cut-price summer transfer fee

The agent of Joao Cancelo is planning to ‘pressure’ Manchester City to agree a cut-price fee with Barcelona next summer.

The 29-year-olds future will once again come under scrutiny during the summer transfer window, as Cancelo’s contracted at the Etihad Stadium until 2027, and Barcelona’s continued financial woes, risk preventing the completion of a permanent transfer.

The Portugal international dramatically quit Manchester City for Bayern Munich following a rumoured training ground bust-up in January 2023, prior to completing a season-long loan move Barcelona in September.

Cancelo, who won seven trophies and made 154 appearances for Manchester City, has featured in 29 matches for Barcelona so far this season.

The full-back has been directly involved in five goals in 22 La Liga appearances and two goals in seven UEFA Champions League appearances for the Catalonian side.

Cancelo signed a long-term contract until 2027 with City less than 12 months before quitting the club, and the defender moved to the Etihad Stadium for a record-breaking £60 million transfer fee in 2019.

The loan agreement with Barcelona does not include the option to make the current transfer permanent in 2024, throwing doubt onto the La Liga club’s prospects of being able to re-sign the 29-year-old.

Jorge Mendes, the agent of Cancelo, is reportedly planning to ‘pressure’ Manchester City into agreeing to a cut-price sale of his client, amid concern for a potential stalemate between the two clubs regarding a deal.

Sport Witness relay a Sport report claiming that Cancelo’s ‘desire to stay at the Camp Nou’ and ‘pressure from his agent’ could ‘convince’ Manchester City to sell the right-back to Barcelona at a reduced price.

The Catalan club are claimed to be preparing to offer between €15 million and €20 million, an asking price expected to frustrate Etihad chiefs.

Cancelo did spend pre-season with Manchester City last year, touring east Asia with Guardiola’s squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

The Portugal international was not named in the matchday squad for any of the Blues’ competitive fixtures however, including the FA Community Shield at Wembley Stadium.