Swap deals are exciting. Inter’s Bobby Carlos and Real Madrid’s Ivan Zamarano moved in opposite directions in 1996, Milan and Juventus decided Gonzalo Higuaín and Leonardo Bonucci were worth the same last summer and we all know which of Chelsea and Arsenal did the better out of the Ashley Cole-William Gallas trade. After his maverick Alexis Sánchez-Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap, Manchester United’s Ed Woodward has another proposition on his hands: Anthony Martial for Inter’s Ivan Perisic (if he doesn’t fancy splurging £30m on the Croatian). Pros: Perisic has a better left foot. Cons: Martial has probably been United’s best player in recent weeks, is seven years younger and gets on really well with Paul Pogba. Stranger things have happened.
Mill fave Alex Sandro has used the classic international break interview smokescreen to stoke up whispers he could leave Juventus for England. “I think, one day, who knows what will happen?” the Brazilian flirted. “I have a desire to play in the Premier League but right now I am very happy where I am at, the club I am at [Juventus], the league I am playing in.” Alex! You big tease!

Lorenzo Pellegrini’s agent, meanwhile, has poured freezing cold water on a move from Roma to Manchester United. The midfielder has a £26m release clause in his contract but “Pellegrini is only thinking about improving with and for Roma”. He added: “I’m sorry that rumours [about Manchester United] have spread about financial aspects relating to him and his team-mates, but it doesn’t matter for Lorenzo. He doesn’t live for meetings, especially financial ones,” Giampiero Pocetta told Corriere dello Sport, an apparent blow to accountants everywhere.