Barcelona Transfer News Roundup: Blaugrana confident about Joao Cancelo deal; Brazilian ace eager to leave, and more - August 17, 2024
Barcelona travel to the Mestalla on Saturday, August 17, to face Valencia in their La Liga opener. New manager Hansi Flick will be keen to get off to a flying start to his tenure at the Camp Nou.
Meanwhile, the Blaugrana are confident of securing a move for Mancheser City full-back Joao Cancelo this summer. Elsewhere, forward Vitor Roque is eager to part ways with the Spanish giants.
On that note, here's a look at the key Barcelona transfer stories as on August 17, 2024:
Barcelona confident about Joao Cancelo deal
Barcelona are confident of securing a loan move for Joao Cancelo this summer, according to SPORT. The Portuguese full-back has been linked with a return to the Camp Nou all summer, but a deal has failed to materialise so far.
Cancelo spent the last campaign on loan with the Blaugrana, registering four goals and five assists in 42 games acros competitions. The La Liga giants remain interested in securing his signature this year, with Flick reportedly identifying him as the ideal candidate for the right-back role.
However, the club's poor finances pose a challenge to their plans. Cancelo is eager to rejoin Barcelona and is apparently pushing for a move, but Manchester City's €25 million valuation of the 30-year-old makes him out of reach for the Blaugrana because of their well-documented financial woes.
The Portuguese is no longer a part of Pep Guardiola's plans at the Etihad and will be allowed to leave this year. The La Liga giants are eager to secure another loan deal, while City are insisting on a permanent transfer.
The player's agent, Jorge Mendes, is working to help the move go through. Barcelona are now increasingly confident that the Portuguese will end up at the Camp Nou by the end of this month, albeit on a temporary deal.
Vitor Roque eager to leave
Vitor Roque is eager to leave Barcelona and get his career back on track, according to journalist Luis Miguelsanz. The Brazilian forward has flopped since arriving at the Camp Nou at the start of this year.
Roque struggled for game time under Xavi last season, registering two goals in 16 games across competitions, starting twice. It was initially believed that the Blaugrana would assess him in pre-season before coming to a decision regarding his future.
However, the La Liga giants have run out of patience with the 19-year-old and are ready to let him go. The club would prefer a permanent exit rather than a loan deal and want €30 million to let the Brazilian go.
Unfortunately, there's very little interest in Vitor Roque's services at the moment. Porto were initially eyeing the teenager but eventually opted against a move. Everton were also monitoring the Brazilian, but their proposal wasn't to Barcelona's liking.
Recent reports have suggested that Real Sociedad are interested in the player as well, but they might not have the finances to script a deal. The Blaugrana, though, have identified Sporting as a viable destination for Roque and are working to get a deal done soon.
The Blaugrana have no desire to register the player for the upcoming campaign. Roque, meanwhile, is eager to end his Camp Nou nightmare and start afresh elsewhere.
Fenerbahce eyeing Ansu Fati
Jose Mourinho is planning to bring Ansu Fati to Turkey this summer, according to SPORT. The legendary Portuguese manager recently took charge at Fenerbahce, and is now working to improve his squad.
Fati is a forgotten man at Barcelona and spent last season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion. The Spaniard's woeful injury record makes him a liability at the moment, so the Blaugrana are ready to cash in on him this summer.
Mourinho is a big fan of the 21-year-old and is offering him a chance at regular football. The player is not short of options though, as Sevilla are also eyeing him with interest.