Manchester City will reject Barcelona attempts to engineer swap deals

Manchester City will reject Barcelona attempts to engineer swap deals this summer with Premier League champions wanting to cash if they are to part way with Nou Camp targets Bernardo Silva, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo

  • Barcelona are struggling to come up with transfer fees for players this summer 
  • The Spanish giants are trying to minimize the financial impact of the coronavirus
  • It is thought they are seeking swap deals to get access to their top targets 
  • However, Manchester City have indicated they will resist any swap deals  

Manchester City have no desire to negotiate swap deals with Barcelona for squad players this summer.

Barcelona are credited with interest in a number of Pep Guardiola’s squad, including Bernardo Silva, Aymeric Laporte and Joao Cancelo.

It is believed the Catalan giants would need to get creative in order to finance transfers and offer up the likes of Sergi Roberto or Ousmane Dembele in part-exchange.

Barcelona have been linked with Aymeric Laporte, but won’t be able to get him on a swap deal

City do not wish to enter talks over deals that involve Barca’s players, however, and would resist attempts to manufacture swaps.

Guardiola, who has been back in Spain this month, is likely to know the make-up of his squad for another Premier League title defence shortly after the European Championship.

Some of his team, such as Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling, had become disenchanted with game time but there is scepticism over whether any interested clubs could match City’s valuations of their players.

Meanwhile, City are expected to face Barcelona in a friendly at the Nou Camp, with a date yet to be determined. Guardiola’s former club recently employed City’s ex-nutritionist Silvia Tremoleda, while Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia signed on free transfers.

Bernardo Silva is understood to be looking for a new challenge away from City this summer

Bernardo Silva is understood to be looking for a new challenge away from City this summer