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Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain could be involved in an incredible double swap deal involving Manuel Ugarte, Xavi Simons, Jadon Sancho and Bruno Fernandes, according to a Portuguese newspaper.
The Red Devils and Parisian club have spent a great deal of the summer discussing possible deals for certain players, including Ugarte.
After having brought in Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro, Erik ten Hag’s side have switched attention to improving their midfield.
Despite there being a sizeable difference in the two club’s valuations of Ugarte, he is keen to join the club and he has already agreed personal terms with United.
The Red Devils also hold an interest in PSG youngster Xavi Simons and reportedly bid for the player last summer.
It also broke yesterday that PSG were close to agreeing personal terms with United’s Jadon Sancho and held a significant interest in captain, Bruno Fernandes.
This morning’s paper edition of Record subsequently report that “Bruno Fernandes could be the next Portuguese to join PSG’s already considerable Portuguese squad.
“… The midfielder could be one of those involved in a double ‘swap’ between the Parisians and Man United, which would also take winger Jadon Sancho to Paris. In the opposite direction, former Sporting star Manuel Ugarte and Dutchman Xavi Simons would head to Old Trafford.”
Whilst an incredibly intriguing prospect, it must be said that swap arrangements are incredibly rare in football, especially between the giant clubs, and there has never been anything close to one of this stature.
Player exchanges are often discussed in the media but they rarely come into fruition.
One of the most famous swap deals in European football involved former Red Devil, Zlatan Ibrahimovic. In 2009 Barcelona sent Samuel Eto’o, £35 million and Alexander Hleb on loan to purchase the Swede.
United themselves also made a player exchange when Henrikh Mkhitaryan was sensationally swapped with Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, a move that proved to be disastrous for both clubs.
Another potential problem of this purported double swap would be the difference in valuations of the players involved.
Bruno Fernandes is valued at €70 million on transfermarkt.com but United probably have a much higher price in mind. Sancho has a market vale of €30 million according to the website, for a total of €100 million for the two players.
According to the same site, Ugarte is valued at €45 million and Simons at €80 million, meaning they are worth a combined €125 million. There is therefore a €25 million difference in values.
There is also the significant stumbling block that United most likely do not want to sell their captain and talisman, putting a rather large spanner in the works of any potential deal.
Nonetheless, in the crazy world of football transfers, whilst a double swap deal seems highly improbable, it is not completely impossible.
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