Barcelona Transfer News: Latest on Joao Cancelo and John Stones Rumours

Barcelona have reportedly made an enquiry to Valencia over Joao Cancelo's availability this summer in an effort to line up a replacement for the potentially outgoing Dani Alves.

That's according to Lluis Miguelsanz of Sport, who reports that Alves will sign for Juventus "imminently," and once his exit is confirmed, the Liga champions will make a concrete move to replace him.

Cancelo could cost up to "around €20 million," but the Blaugrana could offset the cost by using Alen Halilovic or Cristian Tello as makeweights with Valencia interested in both players, and the two clubs' cordial relationship should further aid the process.

Per the Mirror's Ed Malyon, former Valencia boss Gary Neville believes Cancelo would be well-suited to replacing Alves:

Indeed, the 22-year-old often looks to break forward, adding width and support to attacks in a manner reminiscent of the Brazilian. His forays upfield saw him rewarded with three goals and five assists in all competitions this season.

According to Squawka he completed 51 take-ons in La Liga but also showed his impressive defensive contribution by making 42 tackles, 65 clearances and 68 interceptions. Here are some of his highlights:

The Portuguese defender is likely to continue developing in the coming years and should get even better.

If Barca aren't able to recruit him, Miguelsanz noted they're evaluating a number of other options, including Paris Saint-Germain's Serge Aurier, Torino right-back Bruno Peres and Sassuolo's Sime Vrsaljko, though the latter "is expected to sign for Atletico Madrid."

Miguelsanz adds that a centre-back is the club's priority in the summer. However, according to Mundo Deportivo (h/t TalkSport), Barcelona are pulling out of the race for John Stones, as they are unwilling to meet Everton's asking price.

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The 22-year-old is one of the most sought-after young defenders in Europe, thanks to his impressive technique and ball-playing skills. But he endured a difficult season under Robert Martinez as part of the Toffees' calamitous defence.

His inexperience was exposed on several occasions, per WhoScored.com:

However, he still has potential in abundance and could be an excellent capture for a side willing to give him protection and time to develop his game.

The Liverpool Echo's Tony Scott believes the youngster could thrive if given better defensive coaching—something he demonstrated while playing for England in Friday's friendly with Australia, per WhoScored.com:

According to TalkSport, Everton rejected a £30 million bid for Stones last summer. Even after a mixed season, it's likely they would still want far more than that before parting with him.

As such, Barca are now "considering other targets" who will no doubt be cheaper.