According to reports, Alejandro Garnacho could leave Manchester United as he’s been ‘chosen’ by Antonio Conte to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
20-year-old Garnacho is one of the best young players on the books at Old Trafford, but he has been linked with an exit in recent months.
His performances and attitude have been scrutinised this season and Ruben Amorim left him out of his squad to face Man City last month.
However, unlike Marcus Rashford, he appears to have responded to this snub professionally and he was handed a start against Arsenal in the FA Cup on Sunday.
Garnacho impressed for the Red Devils as he assisted Bruno Fernandes for Man Utd‘s goal as the 10-man side eventually triumphed on penalties.
READ: Man Utd star facing ban after FA Cup brawl in penalty shootout win over Arsenal
Man Utd’s performances against Liverpool and Arsenal bode well moving forward, but a huge overhaul is still expected this year as Amorim builds his team.
With United having a ‘tight’ budget, it’s emerged that club chiefs are open to offers for most of their players as there are only two ‘untouchables’ in Amorim’s squad.
While United would prefer to keep Garnacho (who is said to be ‘frustrated’) and Kobbie Mainoo, they would be willing to sanction a pure profit sale if they receive a tempting bid and they could soon receive an offer from Napoli for the winger.
Napoli have been dealt a transfer blow of their own as head coach Conte revealed over the weekend that Kvaratskhelia has “asked” to leave the Serie A giants.
Conte said: “He asked the club to be sold. I’m disappointed.
“It was a bolt from the blue. I’m taking a step back. I don’t want him to think I’ve chained him here… We’re losing an important player.”
MORE ON ARSENAL v MAN UTD FROM F365:
👉 16 Conclusions from Arsenal 1-1 Man Utd (3-5): Havertz and Gunners blow big chance, tentative United progress continues
👉 Mikel Arteta is ‘overpaid jester’ and Arsenal are just ‘expensive Stoke’
👉 Arsenal vs Man Utd: Harry Maguire’s dig at Kai Havertz revealed amid FA Cup penalty controversy
23-year-old Kvaratskhelia has emerged as one of the best wingers in Europe and has been linked with several elite sides in recent years.
The Georgia international has five goals and three assists in his 17 Serie A appearances this season and a report in Italy claims he’s in line for a 90 million euro (£75m) move to PSG.
The report also claims Garnacho has been ‘chosen’ by Conte and Napoli as an ‘ideal’ replacement for the talented winger.
‘Napoli has identified the successor to Kvara. The name is of Alejandro Garnacho of Manchester United. Argentine naturalized Spanish, born in 2004, and with a valuation of 50 million euros.
‘The Sporting Director of the Neapolitans Manna is already working to open contacts with the Red Devils, but Conte has traced the path, having identified in the winger of the British team the ideal player to be able to collect the legacy of Kvaratskhelia now increasingly close to leaving Maradona to arrive at PSG.
‘The first few days of next week will be crucial to define in all its details the negotiations between Napoli and PSG for Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Napoli’s departure request is around 90 million euros, but the negotiations between the two clubs are well underway despite a still quite significant valuation gap with the offer from the Parisians.’
