Joao Cancelo nearing Barcelona loan switch from Man City

Barcelona are confident of finalising their move for Joao Cancelo this week, sources have told 90min.

The 29-year-old is surplus to requirements at the Etihad Stadium since falling out of favour under Pep Guardiola last season. He spent the second half of last season on loan with Bayern Munich, who declined to trigger their option for a permanent transfer.

After constructive talks over the weekend, Barca are now closing in on a deal to take Cancelo on loan for the season.

Sources with have confirmed to 90min that Barcelona will be covering the majority of Cancelo’s wages over the course of the season and they have also agreed an option worth £30m to make the move permanent next summer.

Cancelo had interest from Saudi Arabia and there was also interest from Europe, including Arsenal, but the offer of first-team football under Xavi at Barca was always the player’s first choice.

The Man City full-back is also likely to get the chance to link up with fellow Portugal international Joao Felix, with talks ongoing over a loan deal with Atletico Madrid.

Barcelona vice president Rafa Yuste recently admitted to Movistar the club were hoping to land both Cancelo and Felix

“It is a matter of pride for the club that Joao Felix speaks in that way about Barcelona, but there are two operations that Xavi and Deco have to deal with,” Yuste said. “[Cancelo] is another issue on the table of the technical secretary and the coach.”