Man City fans think they already have Cancelo's replacement as Pep Guardiola's comments emerge

Manchester City fans think they already have Joao Cancelo's replacement on their books as Pep Guardiola's past left-back comments have emerged.

Cancelo is on the verge of completing a shock move away from the Etihad, with Bayern Munich set to sign the Portugal international on an initial loan deal until the end of the season.

A deal also includes an option to buy the full-back for £61.5 million as further reports suggest Guardiola and Cancelo had a training ground bust-up.

Guardiola will now call upon Nathan Ake and Sergio Gomez at left-back for the remainder of the season unless the Man City boss recruits a new player before today's 11pm deadline.

However, if he doesn't splash the cash on a new left-back then he could resort to using Phil Foden in that position.

Pep Guardiola speaks to Phil Foden during a game. Image: Alamy

What's more, the Spaniard has previously talked up Foden's versality, claiming he can operate at left-back.

Speaking after the Man City star's hat-trick against Manchester United earlier in the season, Guardiola said: "He can play in a lot of different positions. I think eventually he will end up playing centrally in my opinion.

"But in this moment in time it is maybe a little bit better for him on the wing to have more freedom and fewer instructions so he flows into the game.

"I eventually see him playing more centrally when he gets older and gets more stamina. It’s all about little details to just find more consistency in the performances

"Phil can play in five positions. I would say he can even play as a left-back. He played a few minutes there at home and he played really well."

READ MORE: Transfer deadline day LIVE: Latest news and rumours ahead of tonight's 11pm deadline.

Man City fans are convinced Guardiola will use Foden at left-back at some point in the season.

One Twitter user wrote: "Just realised Pep's gonna stick foden left back."

A second tweeted: "He did say Foden could play left back to be fair."

A third added: "Phil Foden would be a better left back than Cancelo ever was."

A fourth said: "Cancelo off and foden back in training left back incoming."

Another commented: "Pep really wasn't lying when he said that Foden could play left-back."

Will Guardiola play Foden at left-back? Watch this space.

Topics: Football, Phil Foden, Joao Cancelo, Manchester City

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury and Darren Till. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

@NasJabbar