Manchester United and Bournemouth could solve a lot of problems by striking a surprise swap deal this summerManchester United and Bournemouth could solve a lot of problems by striking a surprise swap deal this summer
Manchester United and Bournemouth could solve a lot of problems by striking a surprise swap deal this summer | AFP via Getty Images
An outlandish swap deal between Man United and their Premier League rivals could work a treat this summer
Manchester United are heading towards a busy summer transfer window, with several significant changes on the horizon. They have set their sights on a number of exciting new talents but they are also looking to offload a list of their own players.
One of the main names on the chopping block is Jadon Sancho, who is approaching the end of his loan spell with Chelsea. The winger is set to leave Old Trafford for good this summer, having had far from the perfect move to the Theatre of Dreams.
This now leaves United facing the drawing board, deciding which avenue to go down to offload the England international. We’ve come up with an intriguing lane the Red Devils could explore, and it involves doing business with Bournemouth. It’s something of an eyebrow-raiser, and it would definitely surprise many if it came to fruition, but there’s some method behind the madness.
Man United could strike swap deal for Antoine Semenyo
United are looking to build on their attack and have eyed Antoine Semenyo as one of their leading targets. A number of reports have claimed that Ruben Amorim and co are keen on signing the Bournemouth star with a valuation of £70 million mentioned.
However, this figure may be a bit out of United’s price range, especially with other signings needed and their Champions League hopes resting solely on whether they can win the Europa League or not.
The Red Devils could knock down the price by offering a deal involving Sancho. With his future lying elsewhere, United are looking to finalise a deal. Chelsea still have an obligation to sign Sancho permanently for a fee in the region of £25m. However, it is looking increasingly likely that the Blues will instead look to cut their losses, and stump up the £5m fee required to terminate that clause, thus returning Sancho to United.
Were that to happen, United could suggest a swap deal consisting of £40-45 million plus Sancho to finalise a deal for Semenyo. The Cherries have been enjoying a solid season and will be looking to kick on after the summer. However, they look set to lose some key players, including defenders Milos Kerkez and Dean Huijsen. Should Semenyo also decide he wants to leave, Bournemouth will need to bring in a new attacker.
Due to his tricky time in the Premier League so far, many forget how lethal Sancho can be in attack. During his last season with Borussia Dortmund, the winger contributed 16 goals and 20 assists in all tournaments. When firing on all cylinders, Sancho is a force to be reckoned with, and would probably be one of the first names on the team sheet.
How likely is the player swap deal?
Sancho has shown flashes of his impressive abilities during his time on loan with Chelsea, notching four goals and 10 assists in all competitions. However, he has not been a nailed on starter this season and he will be eager to sign for a club who will make him a focal point in attack.
It’s highly likely Bournemouth would do this and both parties would benefit from his arrival. With the Cherries targeting European football, this is something Sancho is very familiar with, and could bring a wealth of experience as well as his talent. However, even though the Cherries will finish significantly higher than United this season, Sancho may not be keen on joining a club that has otherwise finished midtable in the last two terms.
It has been reported that Sancho is keen to return to Dortmund, too. So with his eye elsewhere, it may be hard to sway him in another direction, regardless of how many minutes he might get.
As for United though, this would be an ideal transfer. Not only would they finalise the exit of Sancho after the ongoing saga, they would be signing one of their priority targets as they plan to completely pave over their disappointing Premier League season.
Continue Reading