Barcelona are reportedly determined to sign Manchester City's Joao Cancelo on a permanent deal following the conclusion of the 2023-24 campaign.
The right-back is spending this season with Xavi's side after securing a loan switch from Pep Guardiola's Citizens on the final day of the summer transfer window.
Cancelo has been a regular figure for Barca so far as they challenge Real Madrid and surprise package Girona for the La Liga title, starting nine league matches.
The 29-year-old is also a key cog for his national side, playing 87 minutes in each of Portugal's Euro 2024 qualifiers against Iceland and minnows Liechtenstein during the November international break.
According to Football Espana, Barcelona are set to launch a bid in the hope of securing Cancelo's services on a permanent deal in the summer transfer window.
© Reuters
The report claims that Barca legend and head coach Xavi has been impressed with the Portuguese's performances so far and would like to make the full-back part of his long-term plans.
It is understood that the Catalonians are willing to pay an initial £22m, with further instalments being sent to Man City over a three-year period.
Guardiola's treble-winning Citizens are supposedly seeking £44m for a player who has helped them to two Premier League titles and two EFL Cups since moving from Juventus in August 2019.
Cancelo spent the second half of the 2022-23 term on loan at German giants Bayern Munich, and it was widely reported that the Bavarians were in the race for the right-back's signature in the summer.
It is believed that Thomas Tuchel's side had a £61.6m fee for the former Valencia man agreed with Man City, however the Bundesliga champions later decided to scrap a potential move for the player.
© Reuters
A separate report from Spanish outlet SPORT suggested that Barcelona would actually prefer another loan deal for Cancelo in the 2024-25 campaign, however Manchester City would only accept such an agreement such certain conditions be met.
It is understood that the Citizens would demand a obligation-to-buy clause valuing £30m in any temporary switch to Camp Nou for the full-back next season.
Since leaving Turin for Manchester over four years ago, Cancelo has appeared on 154 occasions for Guardiola's side in a multitude of positions across the backline, scoring nine goals.
Barca and Cancelo will be aiming to close the four-point gap to first-placed Girona on Saturday afternoon when they travel to face Rayo Vallecano in La Liga.
Carter White
