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Fabrizio Romano Transfer Update: Saudi Champions Al Hilal In Negotiations For Man City’s Joao Cancelo
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Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal have submitted a formal bid for Manchester City’s Joao Cancelo and are in negotiations to sign the defender, Fabrizio Romano has revealed in his latest transfer update.
Fabrizio Romano Transfer Update: Al Hilal In Negotiations For Cancelo
Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo could soon be the latest high-profile star to make the Saudi Arabia switch, with Pro League champions Al Hilal currently in negotiations for the Portuguese right-back.
This comes from Italian transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano, who claims that Al Hilal have submitted a formal bid for the 30-year-old and that he is the first choice for Jorge Jesus, the Saudi club’s manager.
Romano has also revealed that Saud Abdulhamid, Al Hilal’s current right-back, could join Serie A side Roma if Cancelo’s move is completed before the transfer window is drawn to a close.
🚨🔵 Al Hilal have submitted formal bid to sign João Cancelo as negotiations are underway with Man City and player’s camp.
He’s the first choice for Portuguese manager Jorge Jesus.
In case of Cancelo’s arrival, Al Hilal RB Saud Abdulhamid could join AS Roma as talks took place. pic.twitter.com/pMyjo1cl7X
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 22, 2024
Previous reports had suggested that Al Hilal were also interested in Manchester City and England’s Kyle Walker, however Pep Guardiola is unwilling to part ways with the six-time Premier League champion.
Cancelo, though, is available after spending the last 18 months out on loan. The Portugal international spent the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan at Bundesliga side Bayern Munich and spent last term on loan at Barcelona.
Guardiola had suggested that Cancelo could force his way back into the reckoning at the Etihad, but that now looks unlikely with the Portugal international being excluded from the squad for their opening two matches of the campaign.
It is also believed that Barcelona, for whom Cancelo made 42 appearances last term, were interested in making his loan move a permanent one. Unfortunately for the Catalan side though, that now seems unlikely, with Al Hilal reportedly being hopeful of landing the defender on a three-year deal worth around £15m per season.
In other Manchester City news, Fabrizio Romano reports that Ilkay Gundogan‘s return to the Etihad is set to be announced imminently, while Maxime Perrone is closing in on a move to newly-promoted Serie A side Como.