Arsenal reportedly planning to sign a Manchester City star in summer

Arsenal are reportedly interested in Manchester City’s full-back Joao Cancelo, but the Gunners are afraid that City will be unwilling to do business with them this year as per a report by The Telegraph. The Portuguese international was loaned to Bayern Munich in January, but will return to City at the end of the season.

Cancelo has struggled for game time this season, making a few Premier League appearances for Pep Guardiola’s side before getting loaned to Bayern Munich. Despite his lack of playing time, the 28-year-old is still highly regarded by many top clubs across Europe.

Arsenal are currently in a title race as they are second on the 2022/23 Premier League table with 81 points after 36 games. However, they are closely following first-placed Manchester City which has 85 points plus one game in hand. The Gunners believe that Cancelo could be a valuable addition to their squad as they look to close the gap on their rivals next season.

Leicester, United Kingdom – JULY 30 : Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo during The FA Community Shield match between Manchester City against Liverpool at King Power Stadium, on 30th July , 2022 at Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Kieran Galvin/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

However, Arsenal fear that City will not be so willing to sell to them this summer after the signings of Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko helped them to challenge The Citizens for the Premier League title this season.

Cancelo is a versatile player who can operate on either flank and would provide Arsenal with much-needed depth at full-back. He is known for his attacking prowess and his ability to create chances from wide areas.

It remains to be seen whether Cancelo will have other options to consider, but Arsenal will be hoping that they can convince him to join them if he does become available. They may have to pay a premium price for his services, however, as City will not want to let him go cheaply.

Overall, Arsenal’s interest in Cancelo shows that they are looking to strengthen their squad ahead of next season. The Gunners have made progress under Mikel Arteta, but they still have work to do if they want to challenge for major honours. Signing a player of Cancelo’s quality would be a step in the right direction.