Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo is expected to join German champions Bayern Munich before Tuesday’s transfer deadline
The portugese full-back is still the subject of a deal, but the plan calls for a first loan with a 70 million euro (£61.5 million) buy option in the summer.
Bayern Munich will sign João Cancelo on loan from Manchester City with a potential buy option, reports @David_Ornstein pic.twitter.com/BNoUbtNzom
— B/R Football (@brfootball) January 30, 2023
The 28-year-old made 98 Premier League appearances since joining City from Juventus in 2019.
Under Pep Guardiola, he has won the EFL Cup and two league championships.
Due to his ability to slide inside and serve as a playmaker when City held the ball, Cancelo had previously been considered one of the essential players in Guardiola’s team.
João Cancelo was the only player with 50+ shots, 50+ aerial duels won, 50+ take-ons completed and 50+ tackles made during the 2021/22 PL season.
◉ 83 tackles made
◉ 81 shots
◉ 57 aerial duels won
◉ 56 take-ons completed
◎ 7 assistsNow it sounds like he's leaving. 🙃 pic.twitter.com/f9EJ0ZJHJB
— Squawka (@Squawka) January 30, 2023
His contributions earned him a spot in the PFA Premier League team of the year for the previous season.
He has only started three games since the World Cup, and his most recent two were losses to Southampton and Manchester United.
The City boss is sure that he has enough defensive options to replace the withdrawal of a player who is eager to travel to Bayern in order to continue playing at the highest level thanks to the development of youngster Rico Lewis and Nathan Ake’s improved form.
After attempting to fend off a gang of four invaders at his home in a “horrific heist” in December 2021, Cancelo sustained facial cuts.
In February 2022, he agreed to a brand-new five-year contract with the Premier League champions, extending his stay at Etihad Stadium through 2027.