International team-mates could swap clubs.
Manchester City could be ready to accept an offer from Real Madrid for a swap deal that would see Argentine pair Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria swap places this summer, CaughtOffside understands.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini is keen to bring in a new winger this summer to provide more competition for the likes of David Silva, Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas, and the Chilean tactician has previously shown an interest in signing Di Maria.
The 26-year-old was in superb form for Madrid this season, contributing 11 goals and 26 assists in all competitions to help his side to a Champions League and Copa del Rey double, proving himself to be as vital a player as big names such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
However, as with Mesut Ozil last summer, it seems that the Spanish giants may be ready to let Di Maria go as they target further signings of some of the world’s biggest names, with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez known to be a long-term target of theirs.
Still, with Suarez now looking likely to instead join their rivals Barcelona in a potential £70m move, Real have switched their focus to City star Aguero, who enjoyed another prolific season in front of goal, scoring 28 times in all competitions to help Pellegrini’s side to a Premier League and Capital One Cup double.
Aguero did, however, endure a difficult time with injuries this year, making only 34 appearances for the club in all competitions, and playing in just over half of their Premier League matches, and it is now thought that Pellegrini would be tempted to let him go if the right offer came along.
Barcelona are another team that has been linked with a move for Aguero, but with them now prioritising a move for Suarez, there is some potential for Real and City to push through this swap deal, with the two clubs agreeing in principle to negotiate a transfer in the coming weeks.
With Aguero and Di Maria currently on World Cup duty with Argentina, it could slow down a deal for the players to finalise personal terms with their new clubs, but it seems likely that both will be happy to change clubs this summer.
Di Maria in particular has often claimed to feel undervalued at the Bernabeu, and could be tempted to try a move to a new club, though Arsenal’s interest in him could be a potential stumbling block in City’s efforts to bring him to the Etihad Stadium.
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