Barcelona are reportedly planning to sign Joao Cancelo on a permanent basis this summer but are unlikely to offer Manchester City more than €20m (£17m) for his services.
The 29-year-old joined the reigning La Liga champions on loan last summer, and he has been a key player for Xavi's side this season, making 29 appearances, scoring three goals and registering four assists.
Cancelo has a contract at the Etihad Stadium until June 2027, but he is unlikely to continue at Man City, as his relationship with the English club's head coach Pep Guardiola is said to have broken down.
The Citizens are said to be preparing to sell the Portugal international this summer, but according to Sport, the English champions will have to accept a cut-price fee in order for him to move to Barcelona permanently.
The report claims that the Catalan outfit are unlikely to offer more than €20m (£17m) and could even come in at an initial €15m (£12.9m).
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Barcelona are said to be hopeful that Cancelo will put pressure on Man City to sell, while the role of his agent Jorge Mendes is also expected to be key this summer.
Cancelo has scored twice and registered three assists in 22 La Liga appearances this season, while he has one goal and one assist in seven Champions League appearances.
The Portuguese was signed as a right-back, but he has largely featured as a left-back in 2024, with Alejandro Balde out for the rest of the season following a hamstring operation.
Cancelo made the move to Man City from Juventus in 2019, and he has represented his parent club on 154 occasions, scoring nine goals and registering 22 assists in the process.
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The defender has won three Premier League titles and one EFL Cup during his time at the Etihad Stadium, but a breakdown in his relationship with Guardiola saw him spend the second half of last season on loan at Bayern Munich.
Cancelo featured on 21 occasions for Bayern, helping the club win the Bundesliga title, but the Munich giants turned down the chance to sign him on a permanent basis.
Barcelona will not be in a position to spend heavily this summer due to their ongoing financial issues.
There has been talk of key players leaving in the upcoming market, including Ronald Araujo and Frenkie de Jong, but the club's sporting director Deco has insisted that "the idea is not to sell anyone".
Barcelona will be bidding to stretch their unbeaten run in all competitions to seven matches when they head to San Mames on Sunday evening to tackle Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.
Matt Law
