Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle to sign Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo on loan, according to a report.
Having been an integral member of Pep Guardiola's system for a couple of years, the Portugal international has since been ostracised from the first-team squad at the Etihad.
Cancelo lost his place in Guardiola's setup during the first half of last season, as Rico Lewis's emergence forced the 29-year-old to accept the role of a sporadic squad player.
Cancelo subsequently joined Bayern Munich in a surprising loan move and enjoyed a relatively pleasant time in Bavaria, winning the Bundesliga title while setting up six goals and scoring one himself in 21 games.
Bayern possessed the option to sign Cancelo permanently, but the German champions opted not to trigger that clause due to their pursuit of Harry Kane, seeing the right-back return to the Etihad.
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However, with John Stones flourishing in his new role, Kyle Walker forcing his way back into the first team and the arrivals of Manuel Akanji and Josko Gvardiol, Cancelo's City career is ostensibly dead in the water.
The former Juventus man appeared for the treble winners in pre-season, but he has not made a competitive matchday squad this term and is expected to be moved on before the window shuts.
Arsenal have been strongly linked with a swoop following Jurrien Timber's ACL injury, but Barcelona have long been considered the favourites, and Sport claims that there is now an agreement in place.
Cancelo is reportedly set to join the La Liga champions on an initial season-long loan deal, and Barca will have the option to sign him permanently for just over €30m (£25.7m) in 2024.
The purchase option could become mandatory under certain conditions, and La Blaugrana will be obligated to sign Cancelo if they qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League, and if Cancelo plays in 70% of their games this season.
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The Spanish publication adds that it is now only a matter of time before Cancelo's arrival in Catalonia is confirmed, and an announcement is expected early next week.
Cancelo is expected to become Xavi's first-choice right-back upon his arrival - a position where Sergi Roberto, Jules Kounde and Ronald Araujo have often provided cover over the past couple of years.
The 29-year-old will depart Man City with a record of nine goals and 22 assists from 154 matches in all competitions, although he is still under contract with the Premier League champions until 2027.
Cancelo has won two Premier League titles during his time in Manchester, while he was also included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 campaigns.
Barca - who have already captured Ilkay Gundogan, Oriol Romeu and Inigo Martinez this summer - return to action against Cadiz at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Sunday night.
Ben Knapton
