Saudi Arabia duo willing to pay Manchester City’s asking price for star defender

Manchester City may have no problem in finding a potential for Joao Cancelo at their asking price this summer, should the player accept a move away from Europe.

With ongoing financial issues surrounding FC Barcelona this summer, the hunt for a new club for Joao Cancelo has dragged on for much longer than some may have expected, now over 40 days into the ongoing summer transfer window.

While a small portion of supporters have called for a re-integration of the Portuguese international into the Manchester City squad, Pep Guardiola has now intention of recalling the 30-year-old to action for the Premier League champions.

As such, and with no replacement required should a deal go through, Etihad Stadium bosses are keen to source a fresh solution for Joao Cancelo ahead of the upcoming season, whether that be on an initial loan with obligation to buy, or a permanent agreement.

Clubs from across the Italian game, and Barcelona, continue to hold an interest in Cancelo’s services ahead of 2024/25, but it is the Saudi Pro League that have emerged as the clearest solution for Manchester City to see a club meet their asking price for the defender.

According to a new report from Sport, as translated and relayed by Football Espana, Saudi Arabian clubs Al-Ahli and Al-Ettifaq are both willing to pay the €30 million asking price set by Manchester City – who are ‘desperate’ to part ways with the Portuguese defender.

However, Cancelo himself is said to be ‘uninterested’ in a move to the Middle-East, with eyes only set on a return to Barcelona, having already agreed to personal terms with the Catalan club.

Unfortunately for Manchester City, Barca want to agree to another loan with a non-mandatory buy option, while the Premier League champions would only reportedly accept another 12-month deal if it included an obligation to purchase next summer.

This is not the first time that Joao Cancelo has been the subject of transfer interest from Saudi Arabia, having turned down multiple opportunities and proposals to make the switch to the Middle-East during the previous summer market.

It is also not the first time that Manchester City have come into contact with Saudi Arabian transfer bosses this summer, with drawn out negotiations over the future of Ederson having been maintained throughout the summer so far.

However, the pursuit of the Brazilian international is widely understood to be coming to an end, with Al-Ittihad struggling to satisfy Manchester City over a valuation of the goalkeeper, who stand firm on their £50 million price tag.