Roberto Firmino swap deal makes sense and Liverpool analysts will know why

While so many transfer rumours never come to pass, is there any type with a lower hit rate than a mooted swap deal? Even then, can you think of many where both clubs were satisfied with their end of the trade?

Exhibit A: Manchester United and Arsenal exchanging Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alexis Sanchez. Two good teams, two excellent players and two failed moves. If that’s the best example, perhaps swaps are best left alone.

But a deal of this nature involving Liverpool and Barcelona has recently been reported in Spain. Memphis Depay and Roberto Firmino are both in the final year of their current contracts and it has been claimed that each could join the other’s club to take the next step in their career.

Harry Maguire has just exposed Gareth Southgate hypocrisy

You’d be forgiven for thinking Harry Maguire had enjoyed an impressive start to the new Premier League season.

Despite being frozen out by new Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag following two disastrous performances against Brighton and Brentford in the opening two matches of the campaign, Gareth Southgate has continued to stick by the 29-year-old by selecting him to start in recent UEFA Nations League matches versus Italy and Germany.

At fault for both of Germany’s first two goals against England yesterday evening, Maguire’s lack of action at club level was clear to see after appearing miles off the pace. Indeed, the defender was forced to apologise on social media for his “mistakes” against Germany.