Joao Cancelo set to join Barcelona on loan from Man City

Barcelona have long been searching for a right-back, and it appears Xavi Hernandez’s top remaining choice is set to sign for the Blaugrana with just days before the end of the transfer market.

Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo was always likely to be on his way out of the club this summer, and Barcelona are to be the beneficiaries of yet another Jorge Mendes client arriving at the club. Previously the deal has been reported as a loan with an option to buy for €25-30m, although depending on certain clauses, that buy option could become obligatory.

Fabrizio Romano now reports that the deal has the green light, and Cancelo is now travelling to the Catalan capital, a report backed up by Victor Nahe of Cadena Cope. His scheduled arrival is 21:41 CEST from Porto.

Cancelo, 29, will be the first right-back that Barcelona have signed who has previously shown the pedigree to play in the latter stages of the Champions League since Dani Alves left in 2016. Since, the arrivals of Nelson Semedo, Sergino Dest and Emerson Royale have all seen the Blaugrana try to develop a starter at the position.