Manchester City demand €30 million from Barcelona for defender

On Tuesday night, Barcelona president Joan Laporta held a meeting with superagent Jorge Mendes, during which the future of Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix was discussed, among other matters.

Both the Portuguese internationals are on loan deals at Barça and the Catalans are eager to keep them at the club beyond the current season.

However, the prevalent financial situation at the club means a permanent transfer for both would be difficult to pull off, especially with the transfer fee demands from Cancelo and Felix’s parent clubs, Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, respectively.

Manchester City want €30 million for Cancelo

Now, according to Gabriel Sans and Fernando Polo of Mundo Deportivo, Manchester City are demanding a transfer fee of €30 million for Joao Cancelo from Barcelona.

The sum is seen as ‘unaffordable’ within the Catalan club due to the financial situation and the need to strengthen some other areas of the squad as well.

What works in the favour of the La Liga champions’ favour is that Cancelo is eager to continue at the club beyond the current season and Man City have no intentions of taking him back either, what with him having had a falling out with Pep Guardiola.

Cancelo wants to stay at Barcelona. (Photo by TIZIANA FABI/AFP via Getty Images)

Another loan deal seen as the best solution

It has been previously reported that Barcelona would be open to shelling out a fee of around €15-20 million for Cancelo.

However, as per the aforementioned report, the most feasible route at the moment and the one that will be worked on is another loan deal for both Cancelo and Felix.

Laporta has spoken on several occasions in the past about wanting to sign the Portuguese duo as long as both operations are feasible within the parameters of the club’s delicate economic situation.

And, as things stand, another loan deal is seen as the most viable option. There is some progress being made with Atletico Madrid for Felix thanks to Jorge Mendes and it will be up to the superagent to get Manchester City on board with the idea as well.