Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal contact over Man City star

In an unexpected turn of events, Arsenal Football Club has reportedly entered negotiations to secure the services of out-of-favor Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo, renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed.

Joao Cancelo, aged 29, endured a challenging season with limited playing time at the Etihad Stadium, resulting in his loan move to German powerhouse Bayern Munich in January.

During his loan spell at Bayern, Cancelo played a crucial role in helping the club clinch their 11th consecutive Bundesliga title on the final day of the campaign, narrowly edging out rivals Borussia Dortmund.

However, it appears unlikely that the Portuguese international will remain at the Allianz Arena, as Bayern reportedly decided against exercising their option to make his loan deal permanent for a fee of £61 million, as previously reported by The Mirror in March.

With an uncertain future at Manchester City, as they boast an abundance of quality options at both left-back and right-back, Cancelo could find himself on the transfer market this summer. Arsenal, who finished as runners-up in the Premier League, have emerged as a potential destination for the versatile defender, with La Liga champions Barcelona also expressing interest.

Confirming the developments, respected transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that Arsenal has initiated contact to explore the possibility of signing Cancelo.

Romano stated, “For Cancelo, yes, they are interested. They had some contact, and they have a very good relationship with these agents. So there was a conversation over the possibility to sign Cancelo.”

It remains to be seen whether Manchester City would be willing to sanction a transfer to a direct Premier League rival like Arsenal, especially considering their previous deals with the Gunners.

Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko both made the switch to Arsenal and played integral roles in transforming the North London club into genuine title contenders.

Rumors circulated earlier this season suggesting that City had implemented a new policy banning the sale of any more players to Arsenal.

The potential acquisition of Joao Cancelo by Arsenal would undoubtedly bolster their defensive options, as they aim to challenge for major honors in the upcoming season. Football enthusiasts eagerly await further developments in this transfer saga, which could have significant implications for both clubs involved.