Manchester United are hoping to continue building momentum in the transfer market as Marcus Rashford heads for Barcelona. There are still four more outcast members of the main squad who are looking for moves away before the summer deadline, and Alejandro Garnacho may be the most valuable of them all.
Whereas Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia all spent at least part of last season out on loan, Garnacho remained an integral member of Ruben Amorim’s ranks. Amad Diallo and Bruno Fernandes were the only two United players to score more Premier League goals than the Argentina international last campaign, and he featured in all bar two league games.
Garnacho’s relationship with Amorim was rocky from the outset, with the winger dropped for the Manchester derby early in the new manager’s tenure. Things quickly got back on track before souring again at the end of the season, when Garnacho moaned publicly about only being used off the bench in the Europa League final.
Amorim subsequently informed Garnacho that he is free to leave. And despite interest from Serie A giants Napoli, it has been reported that the 21-year-old would rather remain in the Premier League for the upcoming season.
Chelsea are one of the clubs with a long-standing interest in Garnacho, having flirted with the idea of bidding for him in January.
And there could be a clear path to Stamford Bridge as United are believed to be interested in Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, opening up the prospect of a swap scenario. But there is one factor which could force United to wait before crossing the Garnacho sale off their to-do list.
According to The i Paper, Chelsea are planning to bide their time for as long as possible as they want to pressure United into lowering their asking price. The Red Devils are believed to value Garnacho at around £60million, whereas Chelsea chiefs feel that even £50m would be ‘too high’.
The only threat to Chelsea’s cunning plan would be a rival suitor nipping in ahead of them before United drop the price. Tottenham and Aston Villa are said to be keeping tabs on Garnacho’s situation, although the lack of concrete action suggests that all suitors are put off by the £60m demand.
That may have something to do with United’s lack of bargaining power, given that they will have to sell their academy graduate at some point this summer as they have already signed two possible replacements in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.