Pep Guardiola removes Joao Cancelo from Manchester City plans with swap deal

Manchester City will target a swap deal for Joao Cancelo and Bayern Munich's Joshua Kimmich this summer with Pep Guardiola permanently removing the on-loan Bayern right-back from his plans for next season.

Cancelo joined the Bundesliga giants in January on loan after verbally displaying his dissatisfaction with a lack of playing time at the Etihad. The Portuguese was met with boos from supporters when returning to City last month as they eliminated Bayern from the Champions League.

According to the Sunday Mirror's Simon Mullock, Guardiola has told the club that he will not contemplate allowing Cancelo a way back into the side after the 28-year-old caused unrest in the dressing room over a lack of playing time.

Additionally, as a result of the right-back's removal, the City boss is reportedly targeting a reunion with versatile Bayern defensive midfielder Kimmich as part of a swap deal which would see Cancelo remain in Munich.

#ManCity are set to ask Bayern Munich if they are interested in a swap deal for Joshua Kimmich that would allow them to keep Joao Cancelo.

[via @MullockSMirror]

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) May 20, 2023

Guardiola signed the Germany international as a 20-year-old from Stuttgart in 2015 who had initially been a right-back before developing into a defensive-minded midfielder. However, Kimmich can still play at right-back, a trait that the City boss would undoubtedly want to utilise.

Now 28, Kimmich has blossomed into one of Germany and the Bundesliga's brightest stars with 76 caps for Die Mannschaft and 346 appearances for Bayern.

However, this could be the first season in which the German doesn't lift the Bundesliga title with Borussia Dortmund being just one point behind leaders Bayern whilst having a game in hand with just one matchweek left.

The midfielder is yet to play club football outside of Germany having won all that is available with seven Bundesliga titles, three DFB Pokals, one Champions League, one UEFA Super Cup, one FIFA Club World Cup and six German Super Cups.

It would be understandable if, at 28, Kimmich is looking to seek a new challenge. However, whether Bayern would look to keep on Cancelo is unknown.

The club opted to swap managers in March with ex-Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel taking over from Julian Nagelsmann. Under Tuchel, the right-back has recently enjoyed a decent run of game time having started all of the last seven Bundesliga matches.

City already have regular Kyle Walker and breakthrough youngster Rico Lewis available at right-back whilst Rodri has dominated the defensive section of the Cityzen's midfield this term.

Regardless of whether or not they're successful in their hunt for the treble over the coming weeks a move for Kimmich would undoubtedly add quality to City's squad depth going into next season.