Manchester City seeking Joao Cancelo replacement as transfer deadline looms

Manchester City are reportedly looking to find a replacement for Joao Cancelo, with the Portugal international set to complete a sudden loan move to Bayern Munich.

Cancelo, who signed for Manchester City from Juventus in 2019, is due to sign for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich on-loan for the remainder of the season after falling out of favour at the Etihad Stadium.

The 28 year-old has made just three starts for the Blues since the FIFA World Cup and is claimed to have become a ‘disruptive’ member of the first-team squad.

City’s decision to allow the full-back to leave comes amid a reported deterioration in the Portugal international’s relationship with manager Pep Guardiola, which culminated in a training ground bust-up prior to Friday’s FA Cup win over Arsenal.

Bayern Munich have an option to buy the 28 year-old for €70 million this summer, however Mike Keegan reports that City are seeking to try and replace the outgoing full-back.

Teenager Rico Lewis has risen to stardom at the Etihad Stadium, featuring eight times since the return to club football in December.

Meanwhile centre-back Nathan Ake, who was linked with a return to Chelsea in the summer, has enjoyed success playing in the left-back position – making 17 starts for the Blues so far this season.

Cancelo’s exit only adds to the Blues’ left-back woes, with Sergio Gomez having made just 12 appearances since his summer switch from RSC Anderlecht.

City completed a surprise late signing in the summer transfer window, recruiting centre-back Manuel Akanji on Deadline Day.

The Blues are claimed to be looking to replace Cancelo, though it is yet to be seen whether the club will be active in the final hours of the January transfer window or wait until the summer.

Máximo Perrone is the club’s only signing so far this month, though the 20 year-old isn’t currently expected to feature for the first-team this campaign.

During the summer, City were heavily linked with former Brighton full-back Marc Cucurella, while the likes of Raphael Guerreiro, Kieran Tierney and Ben Chilwell have all been mooted in the past.