Man City star being chased by Europe’s top clubs after losing starting spot

Manchester City face rivals Manchester United on Saturday afternoon in a match that could prove pivotal in a number of ways. 

The reigning Premier League champions can close the gap to leaders Arsenal to just two points with a win, while The Red Devils will move into third place, just a point behind City, if they come out on top.

While the focus is on the game at Old Trafford on Saturday, recent reports suggest that Pep Guardiola may face a battle to keep hold of one of his most important players.

According to The Telegraph, a number of Europe’s top clubs are monitoring the situation of full-back Joao Cancelo.

The Portuguese defender has been one of the Premier League most impressive players over the past two seasons, but he has found himself on the bench more often than not of late.

The report claims that unnamed clubs are keeping tabs on the player’s situation, eager to find out whether Cancelo could be available in the summer.

City’s Carabao Cup defeat to Southampton on Tuesday marked the first time Cancelo had completed 90 minutes since the World Cup

Since the Premier League’s return following the World Cup, Cancelo has started just one Premier League match.

The game he did start – against Chelsea – saw him substituted off at half-time, and he has only made substitute appearances against both Leeds United and Chelsea in the league and FA Cup respectively.

Prior to the tournament in Qatar, the ex-Valencia man had started 14 of City’s 15 league games.

Cancelo, 28, signed a long-term contract with City last year which currently runs until 2027, but the defender’s future at the club does seem to have been questioned for the first time.

Since joining City from Juventus in the summer of 2019, the Portugal international has made more than 150 appearances for The Citizens.

He has won the Premier League title twice during his time in Manchester, and was named in the PFA Team of the year last season.