Pep eyes Semedo to be Walker rival
PEP GUARDIOLA wants Barcelona defender Nelson Semedo to challenge Kyle Walker at Manchester City next season. City are understood to be open to a swap deal involving Joao Cancelo, the Portugal international who cost £60million from Juventus last summer. Cancelo has flattered to deceive since, making just eight Premier League starts, and Guardiola believes Walker requires tougher competition at right back. Swap deals are expected to become more prevalent once the transfer window re-opens, with Barcelona open to moving on a sizeable number of their current squad. Semedo moved to the Nou Camp from Benfica, where he had played alongside Bernardo Silva for the club’s B team when the pair were teenagers. The 26-year-old will become the seventh full back signed during Guardiola’s reign — at a cost of almost £200m — should City manage to secure his signature amid interest from elsewhere in Europe. Meanwhile, City will be the last top-flight team to return to training over the weekend with a view to the Premier League’s resumption late next month. The squad and staff underwent coronavirus testing on Monday before a second round yesterday and are expected to be back on the grass this weekend. Benjamin Mendy said he cannot wait for the season to resume. ‘We are just waiting for the green light,’ he said. ‘I’m waiting for the guys to text us to tell us the league is going to start at this time, and we are going to be so happy. But I know they are going to take all the precautions when we are back. ‘It’s not like they are just going to say, “Let’s go play”, they are going to check everything and I think that’s why it takes time.’