According to FootballTransfers, Arsenal and Manchester City are currently in talks regarding a potential player exchange this summer, which would involve Kieran Tierney and Joao Cancelo swapping clubs. Both players are available for transfer at the end of the season, with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reportedly interested in Cancelo, while Tierney is of interest to Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal is reportedly in need of a new left-back to replace Tierney and a new right-back, as they recognize that Ben White is naturally a centre-back and they are frustrated by Takehiro Tomiyasu’s injury-proneness. If Cancelo is signed, Arteta sees him as the starting right-back, with White being the backup in that role and the first backup at centre-back to William Saliba. This would mean Arsenal would not have to buy a centre-back and could focus on signing Declan Rice and another midfielder. Cancelo’s ability to play at left-back is also seen as a bonus.
However, Cancelo’s relationship with Guardiola is reportedly poor, and the Manchester City boss has made it clear that he wants him out of the club. Cancelo moved on loan to Bayern Munich in January for six months, but the German champions are unlikely to make the deal permanent.
City, on the other hand, is reportedly looking for a versatile left-back who can also play at centre-back, with Tierney fitting the bill perfectly. The Scottish international was initially courted by Guardiola in January before his loan to Bayern.
One of the potential stumbling blocks in a swap deal is Man City’s asking price for Cancelo, which is reportedly £60 million. It remains to be seen whether Arsenal will share that opinion when the overall valuations of both players are calculated.
Meanwhile, negotiations between Arsenal and Declan Rice are said to be getting closer to completion, with the West Ham midfielder looking increasingly likely to move to the Emirates ahead of next season.