Four Manchester City players could go this week, according to Pep Guardiola's transfer report.
Joao Cancelo is poised to be the first to go for Saudi Arabia, but Pep Guardiola is ready to cash in on a number of Manchester City players as he finalises his roster ahead of the closure of the transfer window.
Joao Cancelo is ready to travel to Saudi Arabia, but he won't be the only Manchester City player leaving before Friday's transfer deadline.
Cancelo has spent the last 18 months on loan at Bayern Munich and then Barcelona following a split with Pep Guardiola in January 2023. Barcelona's financial difficulties have prevented them from permanently securing the full-back, despite their desire to do so, with City benefitting from their issues to balance the books by bringing Ilkay Gundogan back to the Etihad on a free transfer.
Despite the circumstances, Guardiola has declared that if Cancelo does not find a new club this week, he will return to City. The Portuguese player has been working with the first team at the Etihad campus, but he has been left out of every matchday squad this season and is not part of Guardiola's long-term plan.
And, as first reported by A Bola, the 30-year-old is in Paris, negotiating a £21 million agreement to join Al Hilal in Saudi. Cancelo, who joined City from Juventus in 2019, is expected to earn a hefty £13 million per year. He will join international teammate Ruben Neves and Brazil's superstar Neymar at Al Hilal.
Kayky, a Brazilian winger, has already left to join Sparta Rotterdam on loan after recovering from an injury. The youngster's loan at CFG affiliate Bahia in his home country was cut short last year owing to a serious leg injury. There is no buying option for the Dutch side.
Issa Kabore is another player who could leave this week, whether permanently or on loan. A number of European clubs, including Augsburg, Venezia, Stade de Reims, and Werder Bremen, have expressed interest in his services.
Kabore, who spent last season on loan at Troyes, was singled out by Guardiola after sitting on the bench for the match against Ipswich last Saturday, having missed City's pre-season tour of the United States.
When asked if Kabore will play for City this season, Guardiola said, "Maybe," adding, "He trained incredibly well and helps with the areas that we require. Maybe. We must decide; it has not already been settled."
Matheus Nunes could also be in trouble. Atletico Madrid are interested in a loan move for the Portugal international, who has struggled since joining from Wolves for £54 million a year ago.
Despite the club's desire in a striker to replace Julian Alvarez, Pep Guardiola has downplayed the likelihood of any new signings. There have been links to Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi and FC Copenhagen's Orri Oskarsson.
Guardiola told beIN Sports: "Erling [Haaland] cannot play every game. The absence of Oscar Bobb is a huge blow. But Phil [Foden] can play there, near the box. [James] McAtee, who is quite good in these places, can play there, as can Gundo.
"I don't know what's going to occur at the end of the market, but I think we're going to continue in that way."
However, if Guardiola can secure the striker he desires, don't be astonished if those words are rendered obsolete by September 1.
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