Manchester City full-back Joao Cancelo is on the verge of signing for Bayern Munich on a loan deal until the end of the season. The Portuguese has even travelled to Munich in order to undergo his medical and sign the paperwork. It being understood that Cancelo’s loan deal also includes a buy option of £61m which Bayern can trigger if they want inthe summer depending on his output over the next four months.
Joao Cancelo leaving City sent shockwaves across football fans as he was known to be a key part of Pep Guardiola’s set-up. However, things hadn’t gone well between the two since Cancelo returned from the World Cup, starting only 3 of City’s 10 games, and otherwise featuring in only 3. As a result, the 28-year-old has voluntarily left for more gametime, and now City are eyeing to replace him. Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell has again popped up on their list.
City ready to take chance with Chilwell to replace Joao Cancelo
According to Daily Mail, City are ramping up a move for Chilwell who is their top priority to replace Joao Cancelo. Although Cancelo’s shoes are quite big ones to be filled in, having helped the Cityzens to two Premier League and Carabao Cup titles since joining from Juventus in 2019 through notching up 9 goals and 22 assists, Guardiola’s team is confident that Chilwell is the man for the job.
And the confidence of City in Chilwell dates back to his Leicester days, when the current Premier League champions were heavily interested in signing the left-back. However, their reluctance to trigger his £42m release saw him join Chelsea, who right away paid the amount. But the move hasn’t gone according to the plan, since Chilwell has only managed 68 games for the Blues in his two-and-a-half-year tenure at the Stamford Bridge.
Long term injuries like a ruptured cruciate ligament [21/22] and a hamstring injury this season have kept Chilwell on the sidelines more frequently than the pitch. But despite his injury record, City know that the England international has performed to his best whenever fully fit and available. Chilwell is currently back in training at Cobham and could feature for Chelsea in the closing stages of the season.
Moreover, Chelsea also need to make some significant sales after they have spent £450m since the summer and signed over a dozen players, with more expected to join in. The Blues need to manage their books now, with a number of players ready to be transferred out. Chilwell, though an asset could be offloaded as well if a substantial offer arrives. And City won’t make the mistake of losing out on him twice by bidding less that his evaluation.
Pep Guardiola is already frustrated at the lack of his full-back options, after Joao Cancelo too left for his former club Bayern Munich following a fallout. The City boss is now left with makeshift left-back Nathan Ake and the inexperienced 22-year-old Sergio Gomez to cover for Cancelo, and thus wants a new player. City also missed out on Marc Cucurella in the summer after again refusing to match Brighton’s asking price of £57m, which was paid by Chelsea.
Benjamin Mendy’s contract with the club is also due to expire in during his retrial on two counts of sexual assault, which will be held in June at Chester Crown Court. The club has temporarily suspended him. A need for a quality left-back at the Etihad is evident and Chilwell is on their radars. However, there are complications as well since Chelsea won’t fancy selling an asset to their direct rivals, even if it meant balancing the books. Chilwell will play a key role here if accepts City as his next destination.