“His Barca int’l teammate told me he won’t join us because of our financial problems, so he will be heading to Arsenal instead”- Barcelona manager Xavi expressed his disappointment as Arsenal take advantage of Barcelona’s financial woes to sign top class superstar

“His Barca int’l teammate told me he won’t join us because of our financial problems, so he will be heading to Arsenal instead”- Barcelona manager Xavi expressed his disappointment as Arsenal take advantage of Barcelona’s financial woes to sign top class superstar

Amidst Barcelona’s financial struggles, Arsenal aims to capitalize on the situation by potentially securing a key player currently on loan with the Catalan club. Despite the Gunners bolstering their squad with acquisitions like Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber, and David Raya in the summer, Mikel Arteta is keen on further strengthening the team’s quality for a competitive run in both English and European competitions.

Arsenal has identified Joao Cancelo as a player of interest in their ongoing quest for additional talent. The allure of this move is enhanced by the Portuguese full-back’s availability and the perceived lack of competition for his signature. As per reports from Spanish outlet Sport, Arsenal is willing to match Manchester City’s £45 million valuation of Cancelo next summer, even as Barcelona expresses a desire to secure him on a permanent basis.

Cancelo’s impactful stint at Barcelona on loan under the management of Xavi has seen him become a crucial part of the squad, featuring in 15 out of 16 possible games this season and contributing three goals along with two assists. However, the financial predicament faced by Barcelona poses a hurdle to finalizing a potential transfer deal. La Liga’s significant reduction in spending limits for the current season, coupled with ongoing financial challenges for Barcelona, makes negotiations complex.

In response to these circumstances, Arsenal is strategically positioning itself to submit a bid for Cancelo. Drawing inspiration from their successful signings of Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City in the previous season, the Gunners aim to add another talented player from Pep Guardiola’s squad to their roster at the Emirates.

Despite Manchester City’s reluctance to part ways with the 29-year-old full-back at a reduced fee, especially considering his contract’s validity until June 2027, Arteta may leverage his past working relationship with Cancelo during their time together at Manchester City in 2019 to influence the player’s decision to relocate to North London.

The impending negotiation sets the stage for an intriguing transfer saga, as Arsenal navigates Barcelona’s financial turbulence to potentially secure a valuable asset in Joao Cancelo.