Barcelona defensive target asks club to speed up negotiations with Manchester City

Barcelona are on the cusp of completing their second signing of the summer with Dani Olmo set to join from RB Leipzig imminently.

The transfer business is far from done for the Blaugrana, though, as they remain intent on roping in Nico Williams from Athletic Club.

While Hansi Flick ruled out the idea of signing a defensive midfielder, Barcelona are still keen on bringing in a new right-back, with Joao Cancelo still the primary target.

Cancelo asks for negotiations to be sped up

Now, SPORT reports that Cancelo has requested Barcelona to speed up their negotiations with Manchester City after having had to resume training with the Premier League champions.

Cancelo spent the last season on loan at Barça and even though he did not end the season as strongly as he started, the club promised him that all efforts would be made to re-sign him this summer.

Cancelo wants to return to Barcelona. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty Images)

The Blaugrana, though, have been unsuccessful in their endeavours so far as they only wish to sign the Portuguese international on loan whereas Manchester City want to sell him permanently or at least agree on a paid loan deal with a purchase clause.

As such, negotiations have not been going forward at the expected speed, which has forced Cancelo to join training under Pep Guardiola, even though neither party wants to continue the association.

Thus, Cancelo has asked Barcelona to up the ante as far as negotiations are concerned. Even though he has other options, the former Inter Milan man only wants to join the Catalans.

As such, there is hope that an agreement will be finalised between the two clubs soon as Cancelo refuses to entertain any other offers.

Barcelona, for their part, have Jules Kounde, Julian Araujo, and Hector Fort as choices at right-back while Hansi Flick has even successfully tested Alex Valle as a makeshift option in pre-season.

So, a deal for Cancelo is not seen as an utmost priority by the Blaugrana, but talks continue with Manchester City to try and reach an amicable agreement.