Transfer Talk: Barcelona looking to retain João Cancelo next season،
The summer transfer window is closed across Europe, but there are still moves afoot and plenty of gossip swirling. Transfer Talk brings you all the latest buzz on rumors, comings and goings and, of course, done deals!
TOP STORY: Barça wants to keep João Cancelo next season
Barcelona wants to sign João Cancelo on loan from Manchester City again next season, but the Citizens want the full-back to leave permanently, according to Diario Sport.
This is a very different scenario than That of João Félix – which was reported by Diario Sport and covered in yesterday’s news – as the 29-year-old’s contract at the Etihad runs until 2027 and City are under far less pressure to reach an agreement.
THE Blaugrana are keen to retain the Portuguese’s services for next season, but a deal is expected to be difficult to achieve as City are unwilling to let him leave on a direct loan – although they could let him leave permanently for less than 50 million euros.
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City say only a loan with an obligation to make the deal permanent would be accepted by them, with the amount expected to be above €35 million.
However, Barca are not willing to hit those numbers, especially since they would be required to fully cover his high salary – something they did not do this time around as Cancelo gave up part of his salary.
Cancelo is happy at Barcelona and would like to stay there having already played 14 times under Xavi Hernández, where he has two goals and an assist so far this season.
Paper gossip
– Manchester City have a concrete interest in the Al-Hilal midfielder Ruben Neves before the January transfer window, according to Football Insider. The Citizens see the 26-year-old as someone who can replace Kalvin Phillips and Neves is set to leave Saudi Arabia in either of the next two transfer windows, even though he only moved there during the summer.
– The possibility of Denzel Dumfries leaving Inter continues as Calciomercato announced that the Serie A leaders are reacting by accelerating their transfer to Club Brugge. Tajon Buchanan to be able to recruit the 24-year-old winger in January. This would help them get ahead of any potential competitors while allowing the Canadian international to settle in before having to step in in Dumfries’ absence.
– West Ham United aim to sign replacement for Michel Antonio in the January transfer window, with the 33-year-old slowly falling out of favor under David Moyes, FootballTransfers reports. The 22-year-old Bologna striker Joshua Zirkzee and the 21-year-old Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitike are the two options currently being considered, with the latter being the most likely following long-standing interest.
– Fiorentina could make a comeback in their attempts to sign the Empoli attacking midfielder Tommaso Baldanzi, reports Calciomercato. The 20-year-old attracted plenty of interest over the summer, with The Viol and Napoli among the teams watching him. Fiorentina have continued to express this interest in Baldanzi despite scoring just one goal and no assists in 10 Serie A matches this season.
– Juventus winger Samuel Iling-Junior is one of the players Tottenham Hotspur are most interested in signing in the January transfer window, according to Football Insider. They believe the 20-year-old has a lot of potential and are looking to strengthen in the wide areas following player injuries. Salomon Manor And Ivan Perišić.
