Pep Guardiola is ready to cash in on a number of Manchester City players as he finalises his squad ahead of the close of the transfer window, with Joao Cancelo to be the first to go with his move to Saudi Arabia getting lined up.
Cancelo won’t be the only Manchester City player heading out before Friday’s transfer deadline, after having been out on loan at Bayern Munich and then Barcelona for the last 18 months after his fallout with Pep Guardiola in January 2023. Barcelona’s financial woes were the stumbling stone stopping them from securing the full-back permanently, despite their desire to do so, with City ultimately profiting from their struggles to balance the books by bringing Ilkay Gundogan back to the Etihad on a free transfer.
However, despite the situation, Guardiola had stated that he would welcome Cancelo back to City ifthe latter doesn’t secure a move this week. The Portuguese player has been training with the first team at the Etihad campus despite having been left out of each matchday squad this term and is not part of Guardiola’s long-term plans.
The 30-year-old is currently in Paris working on a £21million deal to join Al Hilal in Saudi, according to A Bola. Cancelo – who joined City from Juventus in 2019, is set to land a whopping £13million-a-year salary – will link up with international team-mate Ruben Neves and Brazil superstar Neymar at Al Hilal.
Brazilian winger Kayky has alrady left, having joined Sparta Rotterdam on loan following his recovery from injury. The youngster had a loan at CFG affiliate Bahia in his homeland cut short last year due to a significant leg injury. There is no purchase option for the Dutch side.
Issa Kabore is another who could head through the exit door this week – either on a permanent basis or on loan. A host of European sides – including Augsburg, Venezia, Stade de Reims, and Werder Bremen – have signalled their interest in his services.
Kabore, who spent last season on loan at Troyes, was highlighted by Guardiola after sitting on the bench for the clash against Ipswich last weekend, having missed out on City’s pre-season tour stateside.
When quizzed about whether Kabore may feature for City this term, Guardiola responded, “Maybe,” adding: “He trained really good and he helps with the positions that we need it. Maybe. We have to decide – it is not already decided.”
Also potentially out is Matheus Nunes as Atletico Madrid are keen on a loan move for the Portugal international, who has failed to make any impression since moving from Wolves in a £54million deal 12 months ago.
Pep Guardiola has played down expectations of any new players arriving however, despite the club’s interest in a striker to replace Julian Alvarez. There have been links to Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi and FC Copenhagen’s Orri Oskarsson.
Speaking to beIN Sports, Guardiola emphasised: “Erling [Haaland] cannot play every game. The absence of Oscar Bobb is a big, big blow. But Phil [Foden] can play there, close to the box. [James] McAtee can play there, because he’s really good in these spaces, and even Gundo can play there.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen at the end of the market, but I think we’re going to continue in that way.”