Manchester City star Joao Cancelo could be unhappy at the club amid links with moves away, Luke Edwards has claimed.

What's the word?

The Portugal star has lost his seemingly guaranteed place in the side, with youngster Rico Lewis starting ahead of him in some of their recent matches, while he has been linked with a number of overseas clubs, according to The Telegraph.

The 28-year-old has been outstanding throughout his City career, but seems to have hit a rocky patch since being sent off against Fulham back in November.

Speaking on the BBC's Transfer Gossip Daily podcast, journalist Edwards claimed that Cancelo may not be happy right now given that he has been dropped, but this is unlikely to lead to a transfer.

He said: "I thought he was happy in Manchester, he was voted in the PFA Team of the Year last year, I've seen quite a lot of Manchester City and I thought he was one of their best players last season.

"I wasn't particularly aware that he was playing badly this year, but this is Pep Guardiola - he criticised Kevin De Bruyne's form, Grealish has been dropped, Foden hasn't been in the team. This is what he's like. What this story probably tells you is that Cancelo isn't very happy. I suspect there is an element of that in there.

"Footballers tend to be a little bit like small children - spoiled small children, at that. He's lost his place in the team and this is like a very polite way of throwing his toys out the pram and indicating that he's not particularly happy.

"I think Manchester City will just ignore it. And I think Pep Guardiola, it won't bother him in the slightest. I don't think there's any danger of him leaving this month."

Unlikely to move

It would likely take a huge offer to convince City to part ways with such a crucial player, and Cancelo is arguably still one of the best around in his position.

He ranks in the top 2% of full-backs for shots, passes, progressive passes and dribbles, highlighting his excellence in attack, and it will surely only be a matter of time before he regains his spot in the side in the long term. In fact, he played the full 90 minutes against Manchester United this weekend.

City are starting to falter in the title race as they find themselves five points behind Arsenal following their defeat in that Manchester derby, and they will need to find their own form again if they are to defend their title. Perhaps reinstating Cancelo's starting place and keeping him happy will go some way to doing that.