There’s a lot to be said for a good old fashioned swap deal.
We haven’t seen a big-name trade in a few years now and it’s a damn shame that there’s no more Ashley Cole for William Gallas, Andy Cole for Keith Gillespie or Andrea Pirlo for Andrés Guglielminpietro (that’s a doozy).
All those deals did involve some cash incentive and the reported swap deal between Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain will also be likely to feature some money going the way of the Premier League side.
A number of outlets including The Mirror and The Independent are reporting that the Red Devils have accepted a €65 bid from the Ligue 1 champions for Angel di Maria who has struggled in England since his move from Real Madrid last summer.
But with Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s comments yesterday suggesting that he would be willing to work with Louis van Gaal despite having a “not good” relationship with the Dutchman is leading some of the backpages to claim that a swap deal could be in the offing.
Di Maria and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a swap deal? That’s what the back pages say Latest gossip:http://t.co/eT0Mcdorf4 pic.twitter.com/l3uQmPjoZ9
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 24, 2015
United fans are not convinced that Ibrahimovic would be the most intelligent signing for the club considering the amount of controversy that he seems to perpetually find himself surrounded by but it would most certainly make for big news.
Meanwhile, on the blue side of Manchester, City are looking to take advantage of Wolfsburg’s pre-season trip to England by upping the ante in their pursuit of former Chelsea midfielder Kevin de Bruyne according to Manchester Evening News.
The Belgian was far and away the leader of the assist table in the Bundesliga with 21 goal-creating passes and Manuel Pellegrini will want to add that kind of creativity to his squad if City’s are to regain the title that Chelsea took from them in May.
Arsenal fans may see their goalscoring options boosted by the arrival of Juventus striker Fernando Llorente.
The Sun report that the Gunners are set to make an €11 million bid for the Spaniard whose starting place with the Champions League runners-up is in jeopardy since the arrival of Mario Mandzukic.
Didier Drogba has been offered a cool $1 million by Atletico Madrid to become the main man for their Indian franchise Atletico de Kolkata according to the Evening Standard.
The Chelsea legend said goodbye to Blues fans for the last time in May but the ISL club seem confident that the 37-year-old can still do a job for them.
Liverpool are attempting to avail of the Sissoko chants created by fans for Momo Sissoko 10 years ago by making Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko their last signing of the summer.
French football website Foot Mercato are reporting that the Reds are monitoring the player but that Spurs are currently leading the race for the Frenchman.