Manchester City have tabled a bid of 45 million euros (£39.5m) for Valencia right-back Joao Cancelo, according to the Manchester Evening News, via Top Calcio.
What’s the story, then?
The report claims that Cancelo impressed Guardiola with his performances while on loan at Inter Milan last season and if the Italian giants do not take up their option to sign the right-back, he is hopeful that his bid is enough to get him to come to the Etihad Stadium.
It goes on to say that Cancelo has attracted interest from Serie A champions Juventus and Championship winners Wolves, so a transfer tussle could be sparked as the summer wears on.
It also says that the swoop could be complicated as the player wishes to remain in Italy so City may have some convincing to do.
Cancelo would add more frightening squad depth
City spend huge sums of money on three full-backs – Kyle Walker, Danilo and Benjamin Mendy – and signing Cancelo to ensure that they have elite talent as back up on both flanks would be another show of immense strength.
Guardiola was forced to improvise with Fabian Delph at left-back for much of the season and although the former Aston Villa man adapted well, the Spaniard will be keen to ensure he does not get himself into a similar situation on the right if Walker gets an injury like Mendy did last term.
While other rivals are looking to bolster their first teams, scrambling around to assemble the talent to close the gap on City, the champions are finetuning and that illustrates the chasm that needs to be made up if there is to be a title race next season.
City are flexing their muscles again.
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