João Cancelo can solve Manchester City’s fullback conundrum

Juventus and Portugal right back João Cancelo has been heavily linked with a £53.6 million move to Manchester City, according to Goal.com.

The fullback position has been one of the hot topics at Manchester City since Pep Guardiola took over as manager in 2016.

After inheriting an ageing group of Pablo Zabaleta, Bacary Sagna, and Gaël Clichy, Guardiola completely refreshed the position with the signings of Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy, and Danilo, to varying degrees of success.

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While Walker has been a key fixture in the City side, he has seen rough patches of form defensively. Mendy has suffered long-term injuries in each of his two seasons at the Etihad, and while Danilo has been a serviceable player at both fullback positions, he simply is not of the quality to be a regular in one of the world’s best sides.

Playing fullback under Guardiola is one of the world’s most demanding jobs. With the responsibility to make surging runs into the channels beyond the wingers, serving as a wide outlet pass when in possession, and still managing to get back defensively to cover counter-attacks, it takes a truly special player to be able to fulfill all of these duties.

As City eye their first Champions League title, the Catalan has once again identified the fullback position as an area of need heading into the summer window. City has already appeared to have pulled off a shrewd bit of business by exercising PSV left-back Angeliño’s £10.6 million buy-back clause to compete with Mendy and Oleksander Zinchenko, according to Marca.

However, the major rumour at the fullback position has been Juventus and Portugal fullback João Cancelo. The defender made 25 appearances for the Italian champions last season and impressed both defensively as well as moving forward. Cancelo is blessed with blistering pace, good technical ability, and an eye for a forward pass, nearly the perfect fullback for Guardiola’s system.

Although right-back was not initially considered an area of need, the signing of Cancelo would be a significant upgrade for City. Danilo is expected to depart the club this summer for Serie A, possibly to Inter Milan, and Cancelo would serve as his direct replacement.

Even if Cancelo was unable to unseat Walker from his starting role, the competition he would provide should give the English fullback new reason to perform. Moreover, Guardiola has shown a willingness to deploy versatile players at different areas of the pitch, converting the likes of Zinchenko and Fabian Delph into left backs while also fielding Danilo (a right footer) at the position. Therefore, there is no doubt that if Guardiola believes Cancelo is City’s second-best fullback, he will field the player at left back if there are injuries or poor performances.

The 25-year old is clearly versatile enough to be deployed in other areas of the pitch, having made three appearances at right midfield (with two assists), while also playing right wing, left back, and left midfield. In addition given his already-solid chemistry with compatriot Bernardo Silva, who are both naturally right-sided players, Cancelo should slot right into the position in the long term, as he is three years younger than Walker.

Cancelo seems to be the perfect fit for City and Guardiola, and at just a £53.6 million price tag, the Portuguese could be just the piece the Blues need to further strengthen the defense as City continue their chase to make history.