Man City set to ask Bayern Munich for sensational swap deal

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 21 May 2023 11:45 BST
• 3 min read

Manchester City are reportedly set to float the idea of selling Joao Cancelo on a permanent deal to Bayern Munich in order to bring Joshua Kimmich to the club.

Cancelo, 28, joined the Bavarian outfit on loan in January, and while the Bundesliga giants are keen on keeping him, they are not willing to activate the €70 million option-to-buy clause included in the loan deal.

However, Guardiola is open to offering a swap deal that would see Cancelo remain at the Allianz Arena permanently and Kimmich move to the Etihad Stadium this summer.

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That is according to the Mirror, who report the Man City head coach wants to sell Cancelo during the upcoming transfer window following their dispute over a lack of game time after the World Cup.

Guardiola worked with Kimmich during his time as Bayern Munich head coach and is said to be keen on a reunion with the Germany international. Man City reportedly view Kimmich as a potential Ilkay Gundogan replacement, who has been repeatedly linked with Barcelona this summer.

The veteran midfielder is understood to want a two or three year deal to extend his stay at Man City, but the Citizens have so far only offered him a one-year contract. As a result, Barcelona are keeping a keen eye on the situation and are reportedly prepared to offer Gundogan a three-year deal to persuade him to leave the Premier League champions and move to Camp Nou.

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Kimmich to Man City?

The 28-year-old has two years left on his contract at Bayern Munich, and could be set to leave the club after eight years in Bavaria.

The versatile midfield star, who can also operate at full-back, was reportedly displeased when Julian Nagelsmann was sacked and Thomas Tuchel replaced him at the helm in March, and has been linked with the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal.

However, Man City appear to have now entered the race for Kimmich's signature, with Guardiola possessing a secret weapon, in the form of Cancelo, as he looks to bat away competition for the Bayern star.