Barcelona handed BOOST in Cancelo chase as Blaugrana offered €20m for young star

22 Aug 2023 13:15 BST | 4 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Make us your Google favourite

Barcelona’s hopes of landing Joao Cancelo have been boosted further by news that Bayer Leverkusen have offered €20 million for Blaugrana youngster Abde Ezzalzouli.

Article continues under the video

Abde, 21, spent last season on loan at Osasuna but has returned to the club for the 2023-24 campaign and has featured in both of their opening two fixtures of the new La Liga season.

However, interest in the Moroccan will come as good news for Xavi, who is hoping to add Manchester City star Cancelo to his ranks this month.

Hector Bellerin, Emerson Royal and Sergino Dest have all been signed by Barcelona since 2020, but none managed to nail down a starting spot and have all been moved on.

Dest remains contracted to the Blaugrana, but he will spend the 2023-24 season on loan at PSV Eindhoven.

Ronald Araujo and Jules Kounde shared minutes at right-back last year, along with new club captain Sergi Roberto, and Xavi is keen to sign Cancelo in order to upgrade that area on the pitch.

Abde to leave Barcelona?

News that Abde is wanted by Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen will therefore be greeted positively at Camp Nou, with the club needing to raise funds in order to fund a move for the Portuguese international.

Sport have reported that Leverkusen are offering €20m for the 21-year-old as they look to bolster their forward line following the loss of Moussa Diaby to Aston Villa.

Real Betis and Villa themselves are also interested in Abde, although it seems unlikely the latter will move for him considering the arrivals of Nicolo Zaniolo and Diaby.

Abde was open to joining Betis earlier this summer and a deal looked close to completion before Barcelona decided they wanted to keep him.

However, with the pursuit of Cancelo still not over the line, Barca may be willing to offload Abde in order to submit a suitable offer to Man City for their unwanted full-back.