Alejandro Garnacho remains likely to leave Manchester United this summer, but wants to remain in the Premier League if he does intend exit Old Trafford.
The Argentina international is one of a number of players on the transfer list as the Red Devils look to significantly trim their squad.
Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho are all on the chopping block as well, but exits are proving difficult to secure, despite them all being international stars.
There is interest in Garnacho, but the 21-year-old is not keen to just take any offer that comes in for him.
The Telegraph report that an opportunity to join Cristiano Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr has emerged, but the winger is not interested in moving to the Saudi Pro League.
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Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano also reports that Garnacho wants to stay in the Premier League, which seriously narrows down his options in the transfer market.
Serie A champions Napoli have long been keen on Garnacho, making a move for him in January and doing so again this summer, but the player would rather not go to Italy.
Chelsea have been linked with a move for Garnacho all summer and if he is to get his wish to stay in England then Stamford Bridge now appears to be by far the most realistic destination.
The Telegraph reported last month that the clubs were exploring a swap deal which would take Garnacho to west London and Christopher Nkunku move to Old Trafford.
The French forward has had an underwhelming spell with the Blues since signing from RB Leipzig – not helped by serious injury in his first season – and Chelsea are willing to sell him.
Manchester United and Bayern Munich have been credited with an interest in Nkunku, and there remains a possibility that a deal could be done with the Red Devils.
Having previously wanted around £60m for Garnacho, the Mirror reported last month that Manchester United have dropped the asking price as they look to get a deal done.
An offer of closer to £40m may be enough to secure his signature, although clearly if a swap deal can be done then that would drop still further.
While Garnacho featured regularly under manager Ruben Amorim last season, the campaign ended on a sour note as he complained about his role off the bench in the Europa League final defeat to Tottenham.
‘There were a lot of things missing – when you don’t score goals, you always need more at the end,’ Garnacho told the Argentine media after the 1-0 loss. ‘I played every round until we reached the final, I helped the team, and to play twenty minutes today… I don’t know.’
Asked about his team selection for the clash with Spurs, Amorim named Garnacho as someone who made a mistake by missing a great chance against Athletic Bilbao earlier in the competition.
Garnacho’s comments have sealed his exit
The cast and circumstances are different, but the brewing tension between Ruben Amorim and Alejandro Garnacho is already drawing parallels with another ugly stand-off that engulfed the club not long ago.
Jadon Sancho’s very public falling out with Erik ten Hag in August 2023 signalled the end of his time at the club – even if United are still scrambling to remove him from their books.
The former Borussia Dortmund winger was accused of failing to meet the required standards in training – something Garnacho is certainly not guilty of with Amorim praising the Argentine for his determination and eagerness to adapt to his methods earlier this year.
But openly challenging his manager’s decisions is a rotten look. We will never know what might have happened had Garnacho started against Tottenham but the winger has been as guilty as anyone of missing big chances this season. Arguing he has played every round of the knockout stages leading to the final is a valid one – but just one goal in the Europa League this season suggests Amorim’s decision had its own merits. Garnacho can and should be doing more, something he and his brother may have overlooked as the red mist descended last night.
The bigger picture is Garnacho has openly defied his manager at a moment where the club is reeling, staggering towards the end of a disastrous season that has broken records in mediocrity.
United cannot afford to let the tension draw out like it did between Sancho and ten Hag. And with the club desperate to raise additional funds in the summer transfer window, one of their tougher decisions may have just got a little easier.
Tony Mogan | Assistant Sports Editor, Metro
‘Some players come in, like Mason Mount, against Bilbao and changed the game,’ Amorim said in his post-match press conference.
‘So now it is easy to say. Who missed the big opportunity in the first half against Bilbao? Garnacho.
‘Of course, now it is easy for us to talk about a lot of views. I just look at the game and try to manage things and improve the team and try to win games.
‘I can see it both ways. I remember everything about the past so it is easy for me to respond to that question.’
Alejandro Garnacho next club odds
The odds at the time of writing for Alejandro Garnacho’s club on September 3.
4/6 Chelsea
5/1 Man Utd
5/1 Aston Villa
7/1 Napoli
7/1 Nottingham Forest
12/1 Newcastle
20/1 Bayern Munich
20/1 Tottenham
Odds courtesy of bet365
