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Paper Round: Sergio Aguero and Alexis Sanchez lined up for swap deal, Chelsea to begin £240m spree

Michael Hincks

Updated 26/06/2017 at 06:34 GMT

Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero are the subjects of a sensational swap deal, while Chelsea are ready to spend £240m on just four players… It’s Monday’s Paper Round.

Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero

Image credit: Getty Images

Sanchez and Aguero to swap?

Manchester City and Arsenal are reportedly in talks over the possibility of doing a straight swap of Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero. The ‘shock’ move is being reported by the Daily Star, who claim that Aguero could be the man to replace Arsenal's wantaway forward Sanchez. City boss Pep Guardiola has made Sanchez his No 1 target this summer, and may look at offloading Aguero to make it happen.
Paper Round’s view: Who saw this back page coming? It’s worth taking with a pinch of salt, but the prospect of Aguero arriving at the Emirates would more than soften the blow if Sanchez does leave. And with the Alexandre Lacazette saga dragging on and on, is this swap far more straightforward? Only time will tell.
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Chelsea’s £240m spree

The Premier League champions are about to begin a £240m spending spree, according to the Express. Chelsea boss Antonio Conte will reportedly finalise a deal for Monaco’s Tiemoue Bakayoko in the next 48 hours, with Alex Sandro set to join this week as well. Bakayoko will cost £36.7m, while Sandro is set to become the most expensive defender of all time at £61.2m. That comes to a figure just shy of £100m. The remaining £140m could go on just Southampton defender Virgil van Dijk and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku…
Paper Round’s view: It looks set to be a busy week at Stamford Bridge. Rivals Manchester City were the first to make their move this summer, and Conte clearly sees no point in hanging around. Bakayoko would perfectly complement N’Golo Kante, while Sandro would be an amazing addition for the champions too. If they can get Van Dijk, and a world-class striker in place of Diego Costa, then it’d put them in good stead for their title defence, and then some.
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Matic closer to exit door

The Bakayoko deal will push Nemanja Matic closer to the Chelsea exit door, the Daily Mail reports. Manchester United have been linked with the Serbian for the past few weeks, and Jose Mourinho looks set to get his man. United were said to be keen on 22-year-old Bakayoko, but with Chelsea on the verge of completing his signature, the Old Trafford club will focus their efforts on bringing over Matic.
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Chelsea's Nemanja Matic challenges Danny Drinkwater of Leicester

Image credit: Reuters

Paper Round’s view: Matic or Bakayoko? It feels like a no-brainer, and United fans will be disappointed that Mourinho and co. could not attract the latter over, while instead they’re in for the man Bakayoko is set to replace in the Chelsea side. Matic is a fine player, but it’s not a name to set the world alight. A good foil for Pogba to venture further up field? No doubt. It’s not a bad signing – just a bit, you know, meh.
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Liverpool target Keita valued at £70m

RB Leipzig are desperate to keep hold of their star players as they prepare for their first season of Champions League football, and Bild (via the Mirror) report that the Bundesliga outfit have placed a £70m price-tag on Liverpool target Naby Keita. Jurgen Klopp is said to be an admirer of the Guinean midfielder, but Leipzig hope the lofty fee will put Liverpool and others teams off from making a move.
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Naby Keita (RB Leipzig)

Image credit: Eurosport

Paper Round’s view: Keita has a touch of class that would only improve Liverpool’s chances of finally clinching Premier League glory. Leipzig are very aware of this. The box-to-box midfielder is only 22, but he impressed in his first Bundlesliga season, scoring eight and assisting another eight in 31 games. He does the dirty work too - £70m is a push, if they can get him for £50m, it would be money well spent.
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