Sources: Arsenal step up Cancelo pursuit after Man City update
Arsenal are admirers of Man City outcast Joao Cancelo, sources have told Football Insider.
This site revealed on Saturday (10 June) that the 29-year-old has been told his time at the Etihad Stadium is over following a high-profile bust-up with Pep Guardiola.
It is believed Bayern Munich will not activate the buy option they negotiated as part of the deal to bring him in on loan in January.
That option is worth a reported £61.5million.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta knows Cancelo from their brief time together at Man City – and is looking to add a new full-back in the summer.
It is believed the Gunners are keen to add a player with his class and experience, with a well-placed source telling Football Insider that the Portugal international “ticks a lot of boxes” for the Londoners.
Cancelo, who is under contract at Man City until June 2027, has won three league titles, two League Cups and a Champions League since joining the club in 2019.
He also helped Bayern win the Bundesliga title during his spell in Germany, notching one goal and six assists in 21 appearances for the club.
The Portugal international started the 2022-23 campaign as a regular starter for Man City – but fell out of favour following his dismal showing at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The Times recently quoted (9 June) one unnamed Man City staff member who claimed Cancelo “acted like a child” when dropped – with Guardiola eventually telling director of football Txiki Begiristain that Cancelo “had to go” in January.
Arsenal played natural centre-back Ben White on the right side of their defence for the entire 2022-23 campaign.
Cedric Soares and Takehiro Tomiyasu are the other backup options but spent the season on the fringes of the side.
In other news, Newcastle plan to hijack Arsenal deal.