Arsenal should avoid summer move for Joao Cancelo
Arsenal should avoid making an approach for Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo this summer.
The Gunners were regularly linked with the Portuguese star last summer, but he ended up joining Barcelona on loan without any option to buy.
The Cityzens are prepared to sell him for £40 million, but the Blaugrana are not in a position to pay the fee and prefer to re-sign him on another loan.
Amidst this, The Sun report that Arsenal are ready to pounce on the situation. Manager Mikel Arteta is said to be eyeing a top-level left-back this summer.
In our view, the Gunners should avoid the prospect of signing the 29-year-old ace.
Signing Cancelo for £40m would be a wrong step
Arsenal are currently well equipped in both full-back positions. Ben White is presently the undisputed starter from right-back and recently penned a new long-term deal.
Arteta has the option of playing Takehiro Tomiyasu or Jurrien Timber (when fit) in place of White.
On the opposite end, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been a regular since his arrival in 2022. Jakub Kiwior has recently capitalised on the Ukrainian’s injury to become a consistent starter.
Kiwior does not possess the ability to invert into midfield like Zinchenko, but he has caught the eye with his defensive skills. White has had more freedom at right-back when Kiwior has played.
Aside from the duo, Tomiyasu and Timber are also capable of comfortably playing at left-back.
Keeping this in mind, we don’t see the hierarchy investing on another left-back this summer.
Cancelo has eight goal contributions for Barcelona this term, but he will be 30 by the end of May.
The former Inter man will cost a hefty fee of £40m while his wages would be on the higher side too. He is currently on £250,000-a-week. In our view, it would be a wrong step to sign him.
The club have focused on building a team for long-term success and Cancelo does not fall into their philosophy. The hierarchy should avoid an approach for his services this summer.
Stats from Capology.com
