"Matter of time" - Fabrizio Romano claims PL star is 'getting closer' to joining Barcelona on loan this summer

Manchester City's Joao Cancelo is reportedly nearing a loan move to Barcelona this summer.

Cancelo has been linked to Barca in recent weeks, and it seems that his future lies away from the Etihad. He was loaned to Bayern Munich for six months in January 2023 and returned to Manchester City this summer.

Cancelo travelled with the squad for the pre-season tour, but with the transfer window closing in less than a fortnight, Manchester City are open to cashing in on him. Barca and City have been in talks for a while, but the obligation-to-buy clause has proven to be a hurdle.

Barcelona simply haven't been open to paying the fee the Cityzens are demanding to make the transfer permanent in 2024. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, though, claims that there has been a breakthrough in talks and that there will be an option, rather than an obligation to buy in the contract.

Barca and City are still in talks regarding salary coverage and loan fees. Cancelo supposedly earns £250,000 per week at the Etihad (h/t Spotrac) after signing a five-and-a-half-year deal in February 2022. Romano, though, says that the transfer is only a 'matter of time', tweeting:

"João Cancelo to Barça, matter of time. Negotiations are advanced with City — no agreement yet on salary coverage & loan fee but getting closer. João wants Barça, not negotiating with any other club. Deal will include buy option clause not mandatory. Talks ongoing."

Cancelo has registered nine goals and 22 assists in 154 games for Manchester City across competitions, winning five trophies.

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Xavi highlights main objective for Barcelona this season

Xavi Hernandez has said that playing 'better football' is Barcelona's main objective for the 2023-24 season.

Last campaign, Barcelona won the league title and the Supercopa de Espana, beating Real Madrid 3-1 in the final. At a press conference ahead of his team's league game against Cadiz on 20 August, Xavi said (via Mundo Deportivo (h/t BarcaUniversal):

"The main objective is for the team to play better football. This takes time and maturity. Last year we played well, but we did not play so well in a few other games. We have to try to play like we did in the Super Cup against Madrid."

One thing that will help Barca solidify their team is the arrival of a new specialist right-back. Xavi has had to play the likes of Ronald Araujo, Jules Kounde and Alejandro Balde in that position in the absence of a right-back he trusts.

It remains to be seen if Cancelo would be the fix Xavi has been looking for down the right-hand side of defence.