Barcelona Consider January Swoop for Rising Valencia Right-Back Joao Cancelo

​Barcelona are reportedly looking at a January swoop for Valencia right-back Joao Cancelo that could also potentially result in Aleix Vidal leaving Camp Nou on loan in the opposite direction.

The Catalan giants have lacked a real right-back since the summer departure of Dani Alves to Juventus. Versatile midfielder Sergi Roberto has largely been filling in, while Javier Mascherano was pushed out wide for the recent Champions League game against Manchester City.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Portuguese international Cancelo is an option on the radar. And Barça director Robert Fernandez is set to be in attendance when Portugal play Latvia on Sunday.

The 22-year-old player only arrived at Valencia in 2015 for €15m and signed a long-term contract until 2021. That means he isn't likely to come cheap, although the report from the Catalan press suggests Barça won't be put off just yet.

That is where former Sevilla wing-back Vidal, who has struggled to impose himself at Camp Nou, would come into the picture, acting as a makeweight to sweeten any proposal for Cancelo.

Cancelo is represented by Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes who, despite his obvious close ties to Real Madrid, has an increasingly strong relationship with officials at Camp Nou after the summer move of another of his high profile clients, Andre Gomes.

Interestingly, it is also noted that Valencia are currently obliged to pay an outstanding fine of €20.4m to the European commission for having gained from an illegal financially supportive relationship in 2009.

Owner Peter Lim is said not to want to put any more of his own money into the club, which could speculatively mean that funds will have to be raised through players sales.