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We are moving into the business end of the season and it is just a matter of months until the summer transfer window opens. Various players have already decided where they will move while others are being chased by big clubs. Frenkie de Jong will play the next season at Barcelona and his teammate de Ligt is under the scanner of Barcelona as well as Bayern Munich. Christian Pulisic will find himself in the blues of Chelsea next season while Benjamin Pavard will be in the Bavarian reds.
Talking about transfers, we will move into the aspect of a swap deal. It so happens that sometimes clubs like a player of the opposite side and offer one of their players in exchange. Simple, right? Well, it is a rarity that both sides find players with the exact same quality that they need. We are witnessing a swap deal in the Premier League with Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan being traded in exchange of each other. We know how that went. Not very well, of course.
But in the past, Ibrahimovich and Eto'o, Deco and Quaresma, Higuain and Bonucci, all have been a part of swap deals which benefited at least one of the parties. Let us have a look at four possible swap deals that could happen in the summer.
Note: We have essentially picked players who the teams might trade, keeping in mind their transfer targets.
#4 Saul Niguez for David Silva
What do we have here? A pair of Spanish midfielders who could be a saucy duo. David Silva is a wonderful attacking midfielder while Saul is more suited to the defensive midfield or central midfield role. While Saul is only 24 years of age, Silva is well on the wrong side of his 30s.
Let us look into why this could be a successful deal. Fernandinho is 34 now. Manchester City is not having any other natural defensive midfielder either unless Pep decides to try John Stones at the position. Saul could be a perfect fit into the position and as good as he is, Pep will unleash his potential as he does with all his players. Moreover, it would be good to see him play under an attacking coach like Pep rather than the defensive Simeone.
Coming to Atleti, their situation is not any good. Thomas Lemar is not living up to the hype, Saul and Rodri are both more defensive than attacking. Thomas Partey and Koke are the other midfield options. The attacking flair is missing and so is a touch of big-game experience. Now, Kevin de Bruyne is actually the man who is suited best for the situation but Atleti can forget about it unless they offer a truckload of cash along with Saul. So, David Silva is the man. Pep is trying to get the team to be younger and Silva is towards the end of his peak. The City midfield is crowded with Bernardo Silva, de Bruyne, Fabian Delph, Ilkay Gundogan, Fernandinho, Phil Foden, and not to forget that Mahrez is actually a midfielder.
Blocking out any of the other names for a 33-year-old, especially Bernardo and de Bruyne is not a viable option. These two would love to start each and every game. Phil Foden will be used more and more in the coming season if we know Pep right. He would try to integrate the youngster as soon as possible. Thus letting Silva go is not a bad option, especially since you get your defensive midfielder free of cost.
This seems a really good deal but and is feasible with or without an extra amount of cash being paid.
#3 Toby Alderweireld for Daniele Rugani
Ah, defenders. Let us try defending this argument of why Rugani for Alderweireld. So, this is not Spurs' problem but it is more of a problem for Juventus. Barzagli, Bonucci, and Chiellini are all not getting any younger. The only other young player in the defense is Rugani who doesn't have ample experience in big games. In a league like Serie A, where attacks are not that strong, we cannot expect Rugani to suddenly adjust to big games in Champions League.
Toby Alderweireld is one of the two names that Juve reportedly want to add as a long term replacement for the veteran trio of defenders that they have. Alderweireld is young, he is talented enough, he can play in a back four or back three as per required. He also has experience of big games with Tottenham as well as the Belgian National Team.
And why do we think Rugani should be included in a swap deal rather than cash. Two reasons. First, Juve reportedly wants two center backs as a long term replacement and not one. By common sense, we can make that Juve certainly doesn't trust Rugani as a long term replacement. Why would they want two players if they trust Rugani to be one? Secondly, if Spurs act smart, they should propose for this. If Alderweireld is gone then the bench strength would go down. Instead of searching for a defender in this inflated market, why not put a simple question mark in front of Juve? Rugani for Alderweireld, take it or leave it. Spurs would be set then. Vertonghen, Foyth, Rugani, Davinson Sanchez, four top-class center back choices.
Rugani would easily get a lot of playing time than at Juve due to Pochettino's style of changing the starting 11 in each game. Juve would have to let go of him when clubs like Chelsea knock the door anyway. Why not get something in exchange which is better than money?
Juve might need to offer some cash as well but it will be a reduced amount when they offer Rugani in addition.
#2 Antoine Griezmann for Alexis Sanchez
This is another big one. A support striker for another, only the other could also play in the wings. Alexis Sanchez's move to Manchester United has not been good by any means. Be it the goals, or assists, or fan support, or good morale on the pitch, everything is missing in Sanchez. And it is not because he does not have the ability, some times it just doesn't work out.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's appointment is another reason why Alexis' time at United may just be up. He hasn't featured much under the Norwegian and is not likely to in the future too. With the horror performances that he has put up at the club, no one would want him to stay too. On the contrary, the huge wage bill for him could cost the club a player like David de Gea, a man who has been winning the Matt Busby Award for fun in recent past.
On the other hand, Ole is trying to freshen things up and would like a person like Griezmann in his team. He is a good player around whom the attack can revolve around much more than it would with Lukaku up front. Griezmann can also experiment in the false-9 role and it won't be bad as he is used to playing as a La Liga support striker. Maybe there is an argument as to why go for Griezmann when the front three is looking set. But if you ask me, one Griezmann in exchange for one Alexis Sanchez, I will take that on any hour of the day.
So why should Sanchez go or what benefit does Atletico have? In any case, Griezmann is not staying for sure at the club. The other striker options left are Morata and Costa. Costa has been in terrible touch. Other than them, Kalinic and Angel Correa are the options. Out of all these names, Correa is the only name who will suit a support striker in a 4-4-2 as Atleti plays.
Alexis Sanchez is an amazing player. Better than all the options available on the table for Atletico if Griezmann leaves. He has also done pretty well in La Liga during his time at FC Barcelona. Atletico could be the place where he turns things around. He can play as striker, support striker and also in the wings if required.
Griezmann has a very high release clause so Manchester has to give an extra maybe 60 million along with Alexis. But it will be good considering the wage bill that they save on Alexis if he stays and also the 100 million they have to pay otherwise.
#1 Luka Modric for Mauro Icardi
Now we are talking. Galacticos. Don't you love Real Madrid for this reason? They are a team who likes to bring together the best pieces in order to form a super team. We have witnessed Raul, Roberto Carlos, Beckham, and Ronaldo Nazario at the club, all at the same time. Then we had Ramos, Varane, Ronaldo, Kroos, and Modric together. If the rumors are correct, then Zinedine Zidane is looking for a massive overhaul in the summer.
There are strikers and wingers along with midfielders in the list of Madrid's transfer targets. Even though Madrid have the signing of Rodrygo sealed from the Brazilian league, they are still not out of pursuit for a striker. Possibly because Benzema is 31 years old, and the backup who is arriving is just 18. Madrid needs a lethal finisher in front of goal because finishing is more than an issue for them. Rodrygo can play on the wings as well, he can adapt. Zidane might love a striker and maybe an option to play two strikers as well.
Inter have more than one issue to settle. Their center back Skriniar might leave for greener pastures, Ivan Perisic might be gone, Radja Naingollan is long gone. Coming to the front line, Lautaro Martinez is now the man up front for Inter as Mauro Icardi is stripped of the captaincy and also ample playing time. Inter has got some voids to fill, mainly a leader on the pitch.
What this deal offers for both sides is a really good prospect. Icardi is not having fun at Inter and the Nerazzurri would let him go rather than pay for his purse. He settles the finishing issues, the attacking pivot for Madrid up front is settled, and the goal tally of Ronaldo is also settled to a certain degree. This allows Madrid to use their money on the other spots that they want to cover.
For Inter, Luka Modric's arrival at this time can offer a thing or two. He can play at the highest level and he can be handed the captain's armband. If Inter wants, they can try to build a young core around him and there is little doubt that Modric's aura will help the others around him. They can also use their money to buy a center back or forward rather than midfielders as replacements for the ones who leave. This also helps Madrid to let go of Modric without much fuss. They can get younger in the squad as per their demand and also get a really good striker in exchange.
