Newly introduced transfer rule could prevent Arsenal from signing Joao Cancelo

Manchester City have introduced a new transfer rule that could prevent Arsenal from signing Joao Cancelo, according to reports.

It has been claimed that Arsenal boss, Mikel Arteta, is interested in signing City defender Cancelo in the summer window.

The 28-year-old, who was among the best full-backs in the Premier League last season, left City on loan in January and has since made regular appearances for Bayern Munich.

Yet, should the Bundesliga giants not take up a £60million option to buy at the end of the season, Cancelo will return to City where he faces an uncertain future.

And 90min have claimed the Gunners are keen on the defender, with Arteta believing the Portugal international would suit their style of play.

Indeed, Arteta and Cancelo worked together when the Arsenal boss was assistant to Pep Guardiola at City, and a reunion could be on the cards. However, the Gunners allegedly face stiff competition from La Liga A-listers Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Man City’s transfer rule

Even if Arsenal fend off competition from the Spanish giants, a move for Cancelo could be blocked by City’s new transfer rule.

Football Insider claimed in April that City have decided not to sell any more first-team players to Arsenal from this summer onwards.

Should the Gunners make offers for players from Guardiola’s side, the Manchester club would allegedly refuse to allow them to leave.

Of course, Arsenal signed Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus from City last summer, with both playing a key role in the club’s title charge.

Despite the former’s dip in form in the title run-in, the left-back’s ability to drift in midfield and affect play centrally has been crucial to some of Arsenal’s build-up play throughout the campaign.

And while Jesus suffered an injury during the World Cup that kept him out for three months, the Brazilian has netted 10 times in his 23 Arsenal appearances so far and claimed a further six assists.