Joao Cancelo's Man City exit plan 'emerges' and more transfer rumours

Joao Cancelo's agent Jorge Mendes is working on a plan which would allow the wantaway Manchester City defender head to Barcelona on loan, according to reports.

The 29-year-old has a contract at the Etihad Stadium until the summer of 2027 but appears highly unlikely to be at the Treble-winners for the 2023/24 campaign and beyond. He fell down the pecking order at City last season.

That led to the Portuguese international making the switch to German giants Bayern Munich in the January transfer window on loan. Cancelo scored once in 21 games for the Bavarian outfit as they won the Bundesliga title.

As things stand, Cancelo is poised to report back at City for pre-season and the upcoming campaign. But speculation surrounds his future and it appears he could well be on the move to pastures new soon again.

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Barcelona has been touted as a potential destination for Cancelo this summer. And fresh details have emerged suggesting a plan is being formulated to ensure that becomes a reality.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Cancelo's agent Mendes is working on a plan for the defender to move to Barca on loan this summer. This appeals to Camp Nou chief Xavi and president Joan Laporta could play a big part owing to his relationship with City boss Pep Guardiola.

Elsewhere, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano claims that City have identified Benjamin Pavard as a potential Kyle Walker replacement. The England international is out of contract at the Etihad Stadium next summer as things stand, so this transfer window is the last chance City have to bring in a fee of any real substance for Walker.

Romano reports that Pavard is City's main target at right-back this summer. It is