Given the current economic situation, clubs will have to be creative if they seek to move players or sign reinforcements
As we have seen in the last 18 months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the global financial market, clubs will have to be creative if they are looking to move players or sign reinforcements.
Transfer rumors continue to emerge, but it is unlikely that any of Europe’s top clubs will spend € 100 million on a player this summer. Transfer values are down and clubs are cutting costs so swap deals could be the salvation.
There are some high-profile precedents in history (although it didn’t work out as well) like Samuel Eto’o and Zlatan Ibrahimovic traded for Barcelona and Inter Milan in 2009, along with many other footballers over the years.
Here is a list of trade deals, all hypothetical cases, that the big clubs could try in the transfer market to get what they want. (All figures are from Transfermarkt).
From Gea Y Van de beek of Man United in exchange for Oblak Y Trippier from Atlético de Madrid
Total value of the operation: 90 million euros by Jan Oblak (70 million euros) and Kieran Trippier (20 million euros).
Value of exchange players: David de Gea (€ 20 million), Donny van de Beek (€ 30 million) plus € 40 million in cash.
Atletico Madrid, champion of Spain, is in a difficult financial position and needs to raise funds, at the same time as it must replace any player who leaves. Their star goalkeeper Oblak would be difficult to replace, but it’s hard to think of a better option than De Gea, who started his career at Atlético before moving to Man United in 2011. De Gea is 30 years old and has a contract that expires in 202 so his value is not going to increase, but he is only two years older than Oblak and he can rekindle his LaLiga career. Yes, United also have Dean henderson, and it would probably have to be sold or loaned, but Oblak is world class and arguably the best goalkeeper right now. Atlético would have to considerably lower their starting price of 120 million euros, but knowing that they would get De Gea in exchange could make that happen.
United have already shown interest in Trippier to strengthen their winger positions so it makes sense to add him to the deal, knowing that a 30-year-old defender is not going to get his 40 million euro release clause back. As a sweetener, United can add Van de Beek, who has struggled since his arrival in exchange for € 45m from Ajax last summer, and could replace Saul Ñiguez (which seems likely to leave the club) in Atlético’s midfield.
Varane Y Rodrygo of Real Madrid for Mbappe from PSG
Total value of the operation: 160 million euros for Kylian Mbappé.
Value of exchange players: Raphael Varane (€ 70 million and Rodrygo (€ 40 million), plus € 50 million in cash.
Real Madrid’s interest in signing Mbappé is no secret, nor is the player’s desire to one day join the Spanish club. But a 160 million euro deal is simply not possible these days, even with Mbappé’s contract expiring in 2022. He surely won’t want to leave his hometown team as a free player next summer, so one might imagine that will sign new terms in the coming months to maintain its value, perhaps with a written release clause should Madrid make an acceptable offer.
But to avoid all that, Madrid are in a strong position to offer PSG a good deal at the moment. They have a Varane who wants to return to France, with his contract also expiring in 2022, and a young player who could fit into Mbappé’s position. Rodrygo, who has not impressed as much as his compatriot Vinicius Jr. at the Bernabéu since his arrival in 2019, but he is only 20 years old and PSG could certainly help him advance to the next stage of his career.
Madrid achieves its number one goal; PSG get a world-class defender and a forward with enormous potential. Madrid would have to shell out another 50 million euros to tempt PSG into talks, but they have a lot of players like Isco, Mariano Díaz and Alvaro Odriozola that could help them get that kind of money.
Lacazette from Arsenal for Aouar from Lyon
Total value of the operation: 42 million euros per Houssem Aouar
Value of exchange players: Alexandre Lacazette (28 million euros), plus 14 million euros in cash.
Arsenal offered 35 million euros for the Lyon midfielder Aouar last September, sources told ESPN, but failed to reach an agreement with the French club. Their desire to sign a creative midfielder remains high, but the fact that they have not qualified for European competitions next season will be a problem. If they can persuade Aouar that his future is in London, then Lacazette would be an excellent exchange.
Lacazette is 30 years old and could be tempted to return to his old club and although he would have to agree to cut his salary but at least he would play European competitions.
Ronaldo Y Ramsey from Juventus for Pogba from Man United
Total value of the operation: 60 million euros by Paul Pogba
Value of exchange players: Cristiano Ronaldo (45 million euros) and Aaron Ramsey (15 million euros).
Juventus need to cut their payroll and they should start with Ronaldo. The 36-year-old has a contract until June 2022 with a salary around 31 million euros a year, but is reportedly ready to look for a new challenge after the club signed negative results in Serie A and Champions League last season. Replacing a player of Ronaldo’s quality is never easy, while he is on his own planet from a marketing perspective, but it may be time to part with his services and get Pogba in return would not be a bad deal. United wanted around 100 million euros when Juve showed interest in Pogba earlier, but his value has been reduced to 60 million euros since his contract expires next summer.
After coming to Juventus as a free player in 2019, Ramsey has a salary of 7 million euros per season at Juve and the club is reportedly willing to let him go as his career in Turin has been hampered by an injury. Adding this pair would give the United team a boost with no outlays beyond salaries, so both players would have to accept a cut. Imagine what players like Marcus rashford Y Mason Greenwood they could learn from Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sergi Roberto Y Dembélé from Barcelona for Bernardo silva Y Laporte of Man City
Total value of the operation: 105 million euros for Silva (60 million euros) and Aymeric Laporte (45 million euros).
Value of exchange players: Sergi Roberto (18 million euros), Ousmane Dembélé (50 million euros), plus 37 million euros in cash.
Barcelona’s financial situation is well known, 1,200 million euros of debt and a wage bill that must be significantly reduced. Two players who seem expendable to them could be of great interest to Pep Guardiola at Man City. Sergi Roberto is only 29 years old and can play in several different positions, which would help City’s strength in depth, and while the club’s attacking options are solid, a move by winger Dembélé would allow Phil Foden Y Kevin De Bruyne operate more centrally. He has had injury problems, but the Guardiola team can receive 37 million euros in addition to getting two quality players. City would have to get another center-back to replace Laporte, although they could choose to bring in the former Real Madrid player Sergio Ramos in a free transfer.
From Barcelona’s angle, it’s hard to think of a better player to fit into their system than Silva. His style is flawless and he is reportedly eager to leave City, which is somewhat surprising given how well he has played in England. Sources told ESPN that Barça would also love to match Laporte with the newcomer. Eric Garcia (who signed for free with City this summer), as coach Ronald Koeman would also like to add another more experienced center-back to his team. But if this deal is attractive to City, they will need to raise an additional 37 million euros which means selling footballers like Clement Lenglet, Miralem Pjanic, Samuel Umtiti or Philippe Coutinho.
They will have enough options to replace Roberto and Dembélé, but after Sergio Agüero arrived at the Camp Nou this summer, Barcelona could start to look like the Manchester City of 2020.