FC Barcelona have now reportedly opened talks to sign a certain Manchester City star.
The Spanish giants are understood to be hard at work trying to sort out their finances ahead of the off-season.
Read: Man Utd 'reserve No. 7 shirt' for €150m Real Madrid star
LaLiga's financial fair play regulations currently prohibits the club from making any signings without reducing their wage bill or selling some of their more valuable assets.
As such, the Catalan giants are already expected to get two big salaries off their payroll, with veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba having both confirmed they will leave as free agents at the end of June.
A massive exodus could follow, with as many as 10 players having reportedly been put up for sale, including Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, and Franck Kessie.
The club's objective seem clear and the Blaugrana have long indicated that they want Lionel Messi to return to the Camp Nou.
However, the Argentine superstar is not Barca's only transfer target for the next window, with Ilkay Gundogan and Martin Zubimendi having also been linked with a move to Catalonia in recent weeks.
Now, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Barca have got the ball rolling in opening talks to sign City fullback Joao Cancelo.
The Portugal star, who fell down Pep Guardiola's pecking order at the Etihad this season, is expected to cost around €40 million (R845 million) after Bayern Munich, who signed him on a six-month loan deal in January this year, refused to trigger the €70 million (R1.4 billion) option to buy included in his short-term contract in Bavaria.
It believed Barca manager Xavi Hernandez is desperate to sign a right-back ahead of the 2023/24 campaign, with his side said to be likely pursue a loan deal for Cancelo with an option to buy.
Read: International footballer punches fan for alleged racism
However, should the move not materialise, the LaLiga giants are said to have also shortlisted Villarreal's Juan Foyth and Bayern's Benjamin Pavard for the position.
You must be SIGNED IN to read and post comments.
WATCH: