Al Hilal is on the verge of securing the services of João Cancelo from Manchester City, according to a source familiar with the situation. The transfer fee for the Portuguese international is believed to be around £21 million ($28m). Cancelo, who has not featured for City in over a year and a half, spent time on loan at Bayern Munich and Barcelona.
Reports suggest that Cancelo is close to finalizing a contract that will see him earn approximately £15 million per year. Despite his lack of game time at City recently, the 30-year-old has had a successful spell at the club, playing over 150 matches and clinching three Premier League titles.
Cancelo’s future has been subject to speculation, with Barcelona showing interest in bringing him back to the Camp Nou. However, due to financial constraints, Al Hilal has emerged as the front-runners in securing his signature. The Saudi Pro League side shifted their focus to Cancelo after being informed that Kyle Walker was not available for transfer. Additionally, Al Hilal had also considered a move for Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
Meanwhile, Manchester City is reportedly still in the market for another attacking player before the transfer deadline. Pep Guardiola, the manager, is said to be content with the return of midfielder Ilkay Gündogan from Barcelona, but is exploring options to bolster the striking department following the departure of Julián Álvarez to Atlético Madrid.
Al Hilal’s pursuit of João Cancelo represents a significant acquisition for the Saudi club, with the player’s experience and quality expected to boost their squad significantly. City, on the other hand, will need to carefully assess their attacking options to ensure they remain competitive in all competitions.