After weeks of speculation, Chelsea finally made a move for Alejandro Garnacho this week.
Reports suggest Garnacho has been holding out for a switch to Stamford Bridge.
Keen to link up with compatriot Enzo Fernandez, the 21-year-old reportedly turned down offers from top European clubs to make the move.
Despite the deal appearing straightforward, with the player keen on the move and United open to a sale, it has not played out that way.
Sales first, then contact
Chelsea were initially understood to prioritise player sales before launching a move for Garnacho.
But earlier this week, news broke that they had finally made contact with United over the deal.
From those initial discussions, a sticking point quickly emerged: the transfer fee.
United are holding out for £50 million, while Chelsea insist they can only pay £30 million.
That difference in valuation has stalled progress, but United, keen to help Chelsea land their man, proposed a win-win swap deal.
Santos-Garnacho swap floated
According to Ben Jacobs via The United Stand, “Andrey Santos was brought up in discussions for Alejandro Garnacho. Chelsea don’t want to sell.”
🚨 Andrey Santos was brought up in discussions for Alejandro Garnacho. Chelsea don’t want to sell. @JacobsBen, @UnitedStandMUFC] pic.twitter.com/SMU4cSRGlL
— The United Stand (@UnitedStandMUFC) August 21, 2025
INEOS must have found it baffling that Chelsea flatly refused to entertain a Santos-Garnacho swap deal.
It is all the more intriguing considering Chelsea have actively sought to offload players to land Garnacho.
They reportedly even offered Nicolas Jackson, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi and Renato Veiga as part of a potential swap deal.
So why reject a Santos deal, especially when he has struggled to break into their starting XI?
Signed in 2023 from Vasco da Gama, the Samba star has spent 18 months on loan at Strasbourg.
While he impressed in Ligue 1 and became a regular in their midfield, he has yet to convince Enzo Maresca.
He played a peripheral role at the FIFA Club World Cup, and with Moises Caicedo and Fernandez clicking, he is unlikely to displace either from the starting line-up.
Why United want Santos
United are actively seeking an athletic central midfielder, someone to complement Bruno Fernandes, and Santos fits the bill.
His Ligue 1 spell showcased him as a unique midfielder who carries the ball with ease, perfect for progression, strikes the ball cleanly without breaking stride, pings passes with precision, and competes fiercely in both aerial and ground duels. No wonder Chelsea are reluctant to let him go.
Surely at United, he would have injected the bite that Ruben Amorim thinks his midfield still lacks.
Feature image Eddie Keogh via Getty Images
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Daniel Onguko
Since Dan was introduced to Manchester United in 2008, he has lived and breathed the club. What started as being a fan evolved into writing about United, allowing him to feel part of their journey. Hopefully, his work might even help rekindle your love for the kings of Manchester.
