Varun Pai
Transfer News: Barcelona could orchestrate swap deal involving Ousmane Dembele and Manchester United star Anthony Martial
According to Catalan outlet Ara (h/t The Sun), Barcelona could launch a bid for Manchester United star Anthony Martial in a swap deal that involves Ousmane Dembele.
The Catalonia side did not have the best 2021. Lionel Messi and Antonine Griezmann departed the club while Ronald Koeman was also sacked. They were eliminated from the Champions League as well but Xavi is now keen on getting them back on track. However, he is short of options in the striker department.
Currently, the Spanish boss only has Luuk de Jong in that area, while they also signed Ferran Torres recently. But following the early retirement of Sergio Aguero, Barcelona are keen on signing another centre-forward. Edinson Cavani has been linked with a move, but Ralf Rangnick recently blocked any potential deal for the striker.
However, Anthony Martial is on the market, with Sevilla interested in the player. But the Nou Camp outfit could now apparently ‘jump the queue’ and make a bid for the Frenchman. It is thought that the La Liga club could orchestrate a swap deal involving Ousmane Dembele, who has garnered interest from Man United in recent months.
Money plus player deal
Man United have been smart negotiators in the market recently, and they would have to be clever about this move as well. Dembele and Martial are more or less of the same age and have had start-and-stop careers at their respective clubs. The Red Devils are keen on signing the Barcelona ace, and the interest is understandable.
He was an expert creator during his time at Borussia Dortmund and has rarely failed to impress in Spain. Injuries have hindered a consistent run of play, but there is no guarantee whether he can maintain his fitness levels in England. Regardless, if we do plan on signing him, it would make sense to receive a transfer fee along with the 24-year-old winger.
This is because we can land the former Dortmund ace on a free transfer at the end of the season. Contract talks have been delayed between him and Barcelona, and we might not have to spend a penny to sign him in the summer. Martial, on the other hand, has a contract at Old Trafford until 2024.
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Thus, if a permanent transfer is being negotiated, we need to be compensated for his services. It makes no sense to orchestrate a swap deal for a player that we can land as a free agent in six months. Thus, unless the Spanish outfit are willing to also provide a transfer fee, it would be wise to not entertain their interest.
And it’s not like Rangnick would be desperate for attacking depth either. Mason Greenwood, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Amad Diallo, Jesse Lingard, Cristiano Ronaldo, Anthony Elanga, and Edinson Cavani are all able attackers vying for consistent minutes at the moment. So, we would also be wise to play the waiting game if the club’s interest in Dembele is real.
