Arsenal have re-entered the battle to sign Manchester City defender Joao Cancelo, according to 90min.com.

The website reports that the Gunners are “now in contact” with the representatives of the Portuguese international as they ponder a late window bid for the player.

Barcelona are still regarded as favourites to secure Cancelo’s services on loan, with an option to buy, but nothing has been formally signed yet.

With Arsenal keen on finding a replacement for the injured Jurrien Timber, it appears Mikel Arteta’s side may attempt to hijack Barca’s move.

Cancelo wants to join Barcelona

It is believed that the 29-year-old has already agreed personal terms with the La Liga champions and a transfer to Spain looks to be the fullback’s number one priority.

However, a lot depends on Barca, and whether they can come up with an offer that is deemed satisfactory by City. Sending Cancelo out on loan for a second consecutive season with no guarantee that he will be sold is not a particularly attractive proposition.

City don’t want to sell any more players to Arsenal

Even if the Gunners were to put a formal bid on the table for Cancelo, though, there is no guarantee that the Citizens will consider it. They may make a more attractive proposal than Barcelona but it could still be rejected.

The main reason for that is down to the Premier League champions’ reluctance to sell any more players to the London club. Both Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus left for the Emirates last year, and the pair helped Arsenal mount a title challenge.

City are not keen to strengthen their rivals any further. When the Gunners enquired about Aymeric Laporte earlier in the summer, it is claimed that Pep Guardiola’s side quoted a sky-high asking price, and you would bet on them taking a similar stance with Cancelo.