Arsenal eye Man City's Cancelo but Barcelona remain optimistic of deal
Barça want the deal sorted this week to focus on other matters in the transfer market
Joao Cancelo has become Barcelona's priority target in the final phase of the transfer window. A few more signings could come in, but all efforts are focused on the Portuguese full-back at the moment.
Talks are at an advanced stage, but Arsenal have stepped in. According to the 'Daily Mail', the London club have confirmed to the player that they want him but are asking for time to address some departures.
Barca are aware of Arsenal's moves and have been talking to the player since early summer. Arsenal's move could only complicate matters with Manchester City preferring to sell Cancelo rather than loan him out, but there is a lot of optimism because an agreement has been reached with the player and they don't think things will go wrong.
What Barça are is in a hurry. The club warned Cancelo's agent Jorge Mendes last week that they were not going to wait too long for the full-back and that things needed to be sorted for better or worse this week. Mendes is going to have further talks with City on Wednesday and Barça are hoping there could be a white smoke.
At the moment, there are financial discrepancies over the price of the option to buy, but Barça believe it can be resolved and an agreement can be reached. The Blaugrana are counting on formalising the signing this week in order to focus the last 10 days of the market on departures and one or two more additions.
