A swap shop summer is on the cards, with a number of Premier League clubs seeking alternative ways of freshening up their squads amid a backdrop of financial uncertainty.
Sportsmail understands that with cashflow an issue because of the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic, exchange deals — traditionally rare — are being considered across the league.
Indeed, the development could see at least one Manchester City player heading to Tottenham as part of a deal for Harry Kane. The north London club are known to be keen on both Gabriel Jesus and Nathan Ake.
There is a recognition at City that they will have to shift players out in order to reinforce Pep Guardiola's squad with top targets Kane and England team-mate Jack Grealish, of Aston Villa.
Jesus, 24, is unimpressed with a perceived lack of game time at the Premier League champions, who were defeated by Chelsea in the Champions League final on Saturday night. Whether he would entertain a move to a club without Champions League football is unclear.
Ake, a £41million signing from Bournemouth, came through the ranks at Chelsea and would be considered homegrown, despite being Dutch. While the 26-year-old made only nine starts in the Premier League and did not play in the Champions League in 2021, he too may take some persuading to head back to London.
Aymeric Laporte is another who would be permitted to leave should the club's valuation of the French defender be met, but it is unlikely he would be interested in moving to Spurs.
In March, top-flight chief executive Richard Masters disclosed that clubs stood to lose £2billion by the end of the season due to reductions in broadcast and matchday revenue. While each club played one home game in front of reduced crowds, they have lost out on millions in gate receipts and have had to pay back a sizable chunk of TV cash, with further impacts felt from sponsorship deals and a lack of corporate hospitality.
None of the 20 clubs are immune, and the prospect of paying huge transfer fees is unlikely. Swapping players is becoming more attractive at all levels, one official disclosed.
While rules are being relaxed, Financial Fair Play restrictions are also at the forefront of clubs' thinking.
