According to a report from Football.London, Arsenal are showing keen interest in acquiring Joao Cancelo, with Bayern Munich unlikely to keep him on a permanent basis as things stand. However, Manchester City could deliver a major blow to Arsenal’s hopes of signing Cancelo as they could engineer a swap deal with Bayern Munich, holding significant leverage in the Portuguese’s situation.
Cancelo’s Campaign With Bayern Munich So Far
In an unexpected move, the Portuguese player made a departure from Manchester City in January and joined Bayern Munich on loan for the remainder of the 2022-23 season. Since his arrival at Allianz Arena, the 28-year-old has become a regular member of the team, featuring in 18 matches across various competitions and contributing with one goal and five assists.
Displaying reliability and consistency in the defensive line, this talented individual from Barreiro has maintained an impressive average of 1.8 tackles, 1.0 interceptions, 1.1 clearances, 1.0 shots, 2.3 dribbles, and 0.9 key passes per game in the Bundesliga.
Furthermore, his ball distribution has been accurate, completing an average of 85.2% of his attempted passes in the German top flight (stats via whoscored).
Can Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta Bring Him To Emirates?
Cancelo has showcased his reliability and versatility for the Sky Blues and Bayern, excelling in his ability to tirelessly traverse both flanks and launch menacing attacks into the opponent’s territory. He consistently demonstrates his value on the field with adept ball control and effective distribution skills. Moreover, Cancelo fearlessly engages in tackles and exhibits intelligent interceptions, aiding his team in regaining possession.
The wing-back often runs into central areas to create chances for his fellow players in the final third. At 28, he has already cemented his place as one of Europe’s finest fullbacks. If Bayern Munich contemplates securing Cancelo on a permanent basis, it is believed that his value stands at £61 million, and the same would apply to the Gunners as well.
Reportedly, Guardiola is resolute in his stance that Cancelo is no longer included in his future plans, attributing this decision to the player’s alleged disruption of the dressing room after his return from the World Cup last December.
However, Man City could deliver a major blow to Arsenal‘s hopes of signing Cancelo as Guardiola plans to propose a swap deal to the German giants in exchange for Joshua Kimmich. If City beat the Gunners to Kimmich, as the North London club has also been linked to the German midfielder, then that could derail Arteta’s plans of acquiring a reliable right-back this summer.
