Chelsea monitoring situation of €70M-rated Manchester City defender

Joao Cancelo is the subject of monitoring from Manchester City’s Premier League rivals Chelsea, according to a new report.

The 28 year-old defender left the Etihad Stadium on transfer deadline day of the most recent January transfer window, in an initial six-month loan deal that capped a sensational turn of events for the impressive left-back.

Bayern Munich secured the services of Cancelo until the end of the ongoing season, but hold an attractive buy-option that they can trigger following the conclusion of the campaign, and convert his current loan deal into a permanent transfer.

However, given the finances of certain clubs in Europe, there remains every possibility that Bayern Munich may decide to look elsewhere for a player of Cancelo’s profile, and indicate that the player should return to Manchester City.

With that being said however, Bayern Munich are also able to negotiate with the current Premier League champions, especially in the event of the player signalling a desire to move to the Bundesliga on a permanent basis from the end of the season.

Bayern could be faced with increased competition come the summer, and as such, may look to speed up the process to secure Joao Cancelo as soon as they possibly can.

According to new information from 90Min, despite their €70 million buy-option, Bayern Munich have already confirmed to Manchester City that they do not plan to trigger that at such a valuation in order to sign Joao Cancelo permanently this summer.

While that may be the case, it is certainly not the end of the possibility of Cancelo joining the Bundesliga side on a permanent deal, with Tom Gott and Graeme Bailey reporting that the Bundesliga side are keen to do business for a lower fee.

As such, it is further explained that there is now a belief that Etihad Stadium officials could drop their asking price ‘slightly’, with a fee closer to €60 million a ‘possibility’.

Should a deal not be struck with Bayern Munich, then City could still have options when it comes to selling Joao Cancelo this summer, having reportedly been made aware of interest in the Portugal international from elsewhere.

It has been reported elsewhere that La Liga giants Real Madrid showed interest in Cancelo when it was made clear that he wanted to leave the club last month, with the Athletic suggesting that a €30 million plus €20 million in add-ons offer was put on the table.

Now, according to the same report from 90Min, big-spending Premier League giants Chelsea are also ‘monitoring the situation’ concerning Manchester City’s on-loan superstar, as Todd Boehly and his fellow officials consider a change at left-back.

Interestingly, Manchester City have been linked with a move for Chelsea’s Ben Chilwell.

It is now known that Etihad officials opted against triggering the England international’s £42 million release clause at Leicester City prior to his eventual move to Chelsea, although that interest from the Etihad Stadium is understood to have remained.

As per a recent report from Fabrizio Romano, Chilwell is one player that has been appreciated by City ‘for years’, and is one left-back being considered ahead of the summer transfer window – but ‘not the only one’.

While Chilwell may be a potential option, should Chelsea entertain offers for the player, then it is expected that Manchester City will have a shortlist in the left-back role and Ben Chilwell will feature on such a list.

Left-back is expected to be an area of significant focus for Manchester City and their recruiting department this summer, but they are also keen to strengthen in the central midfield positions – especially given the uncertainty surrounding the likes of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva.