Manchester United are in talks with Chelsea over a blockbuster swap deal involving Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling.
United want to offload Sancho who has returned to Old Trafford this summer following a fallout with manager Erik ten Hag.
Chelsea are keen to sell Sterling who is training with the rest of the club’s ‘bomb squad’ not wanted by new manager Enzo Maresca.
A swap deal might appear to make sense, and United’s sporting director Dan Ashworth is said to have discussed it in meetings on Tuesday.
But it’s understood that a number of obstacles would need to be overcome for the two England wingers to exchange clubs before Friday’s transfer deadline.
Manchester United and Chelsea are said to be discussing a swap deal that would see Jadon Sancho and Raheem Sterling trade clubs
Sterling has been banished to the 'bomb squad' of unwanted players at Stamford Bridge
High among them is the £70million owed to Sterling in wages and bonuses for the remaining three years of his contract at Stamford Bridge.
With United keen to clear Sancho’s £250,000-a-week salary from their wage bill, they would be reluctant to help Chelsea reach a financial settlement with Sterling.
Sources have indicated that any deal would have to be on United’s terms, and a player swap is still an unlikely solution.
But it reflects the predicament both clubs are in with just three days of the transfer window remaining.
United have been in talks with Juventus over Sancho and would prefer a straight cash deal with the Italians after taking their summer spending to £200million by agreeing to pay Paris Saint-Germain up to £50.4m for Uruguay midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
However, Sancho is aware of Chelsea’s interest and may prefer a return to London over moving to Turin.
Talks between United and Chelsea over Sancho have raised the issue of a swap with Sterling who is understood to be keen on a move back to the north-west where he spent seven years with Manchester City and still has a network of friends.
United value Sterling highly but Ten Hag already has a number of wide players at his disposal including Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Amad Diallo and Mason Mount.
Two other players are set to leave Old Trafford with Scott McTominay on the verge of a £26m move to Napoli and Hannibal Mejbri set to join Burnley for £9.5m.
Enzo Maresca said earlier this week it was 'impossible' for the likes of Sterling to play minutes
Chelsea currently have an eye-watering 43 players on their books meaning space is tight
Meanwhile, Chelsea have an interest in Brentford striker Ivan Toney, though the financials of the deal will dictate whether the Blues press ahead with a move.
Toney, who is in the final 12 months of his deal, can leave this summer and has an offer from Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli.
But the England star has moved onto Chelsea’s radar as they look to land a new striker ahead of Friday’s transfer deadline.
However, the cost of the deal will prove the defining factor in whether Chelsea step up their interest this week.
Toney is set to earn up to £400,000-per-week in Saudi, a wage Chelsea will not get near as they implement a stringent wage structure.
Equally, Brentford’s selling price would also have to suit Chelsea for the Stamford Bridge to accelerate their initial interest.
Chelsea have an interest in Ivan Toney, but the finances of the deal will dictate whether the Blues press ahead
But if Chelsea believe the finances of the deal can fit into their structure then they will consider moving.
Toney isn’t the only forward interesting Chelsea, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen another player the club hold a firm interest in.
Osimhen has long been recognised as Chelsea’ preferred central striker target but the cost of that deal has proved prohibitive so far.
It now remains to be seen if the conditions of a deal for the Nigeria forward change in the coming hours as news emerges of the interest in Toney.