Barcelona look as if they will put most of their resources into a pursuit of Nico Williams this summer, but there are still other areas of business that remains open. A central midfielder remains a priority and then there are the cases of Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo.
While doubts have been cast over the former’s return, Sport say that Cancelo is ‘practically certain’ to return to Barcelona this summer. Manchester City are keen to move him on permanently, and have offered him around for €25m.
Breaking: Lamine Yamal has won this year's Golden Boy award. @esport3
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) July 12, 2024
Cancelo has turned down the chance to go to Saudi Arabia and join Al-Ittihad. Italian giants Juventus have tried to persuade him to head back to Turin, but Cancelo has no desire to go to Italy either. City are increasingly looking resigned to negotiations with Barcelona for the Portuguese again, who is set on continuing his life in Catalonia. Barcelona will try to negotiate a loan with an option to buy next summer.
One thing that is ostensibly less clear is where Cancelo will play. Capable of playing on the left or right of defence, Jules Kounde outperformed him at right-back last year, while Alejandro Balde’s return will provide genuine competition if the youngster can recover the form he showed in his first campaign with the Blaugrana.
