Man City 'on alert' over potential Gavi free transfer and more transfer rumours

Manchester City are reportedly monitoring an increasingly messy situation at Barcelona that could see Gavi leave on a free transfer.

Gavi has long been on the radar of Europe's top clubs, with the Spaniard regarded as one of Europe's brightest young talents. The 18-year-old is much loved in Barcelona, not least by manager Xavi who sees Gavi and Pedri as the latest La Masia graduates to take the club forward.

Despite interest from elsewhere, speculation over the teenager's departure was supposedly ended when he signed a new deal with the Blaugrana in September. But The Times report that the new deal is in dispute with La Liga, who reportedly insist the club cannot sign new players.

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Should the league refuse to ratify Gavi's fresh deal, then the midfielder will revert to his youth team deal which expires in the summer, making him a free agent. The report adds that a commercial court sided with the club in January, but on Monday reversed their decision, with the chaotic situation alerting City and Liverpool.

Elsewhere, Spanish outlet AS report that Barcelona have ruled out the signing of City defender Joao Cancelo.

The Portugal international left City in a shock loan deal late in the January window, joining Bayern Munich for the remainder of the season. The defender was frustrated by a lack of minutes since returning from the World Cup but is finding similar issues in Germany.

Julian Nagelsmann's side are not expected to sign Cancelo permanently this summer, leaving him in limbo and potentially looking for a new club.

Barcelona had been linked with the 28-year-old in recent weeks but reports this week state that their officials met with agent Jorge Mendes