AS Roma initially wanted Arsenal to extend the contract and loan deal of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, but they’re now looking at a swap deal instead, according to reports.

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AS Roma’s Edin Dzeko (2ndR) celebrates with Henrikh Mkhitaryan (R) on December 12, 2019. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP via Getty Images)

Corriere dello Sport (via Sport Witness) claim AS Roma are now settling for a swap deal after failing to convince Arsenal to extend and loan Henrikh Mkhitaryan again this season.

Per other reports, Mkhitaryan has a clause in his Arsenal contract allowing them to extend by a year – to 2022. Roma were hoping they would do so before loaning him out again. However, it came with a wage increase from £7.5m to £12.5m.

Unsurprisingly, CdS report that this made no sense to Arsenal. They don’t want to commit themselves further to Mkhitaryan for more money, they’d prefer a sale.

Roma are trying to get creative with their next offer as a result, as they aren’t willing to pay Arsenal’s asking price in cash. Instead, they’re ready to play the Justin Kluivert card, offering the Dutch forward for Mkhitaryan, with Arsenal adding cash on their end.

Calciomercato also made similar claims about a swap deal last week. I’d accept any deal that avoids Arsenal paying €12.5m-a-year to Mkhitaryan in two years’ time when he’s 33.