Chelsea and Arsenal will consider making offers for Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo this summer if Bayern Munich don’t sign him on a permanent basis, according to journalist Steve Bates.

The former chief football reporter for the Sunday People believes that the Portuguese international could be the subject of a lot of interest from other ‘Big Six’ clubs in the coming months:

“I’ve seen reports that Bayern Munich may not pursue him at the end of the loan deal. They don’t have an agreement obligating them to sign him, and if he’s not pulling up any trees at the moment, then I can’t see them pushing ahead with that.”

“Chelsea and Arsenal have been linked with him and there’s no doubt that if he was to be sold by Manchester City, then a lot of Premier League clubs in the top four or five would definitely be after him, as would many of the top clubs in Europe.”

Bayern do have the option to buy Cancelo for €70m (£61m) but, as Bates mentions, there are already multiple reports suggesting that the Bundesliga champions won’t keep the 28-year-old.

The fullback was substituted at halftime during the 2-1 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at the weekend. It was only his sixth start since moving to Germany during the January transfer window, and it doesn’t appear he is having a great time of things at the moment.

Of course, Cancelo’s situation could change between now and the end of the season but City must prepare for the eventuality that he will return to the Etihad in July.