Manchester United’s asking price for Alejandro Garnacho could reach as low as €45 million this summer as the 20-year-old winger’s frustrating run of form continues, according to a report from Italy.
Garnacho was the subject of interest from Napoli in the winter window as the Serie A giant searched for a replacement for star player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed for Paris Saint-Germain in January.
The Italian club saw a £40 million bid rejected by United with Mancunian side also aware of Premier League rival Chelsea’s interest in their young winger.
Garnacho’s status as an academy player means his potential sale would constitute a treasure trove from a PSR perspective. And it’s this financial boost driving United officials’ reluctant openness to the 20-year-old’s exit, given the precarious economic situation at Old Trafford.
Garnacho is not a natural fit in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system as he lacks the defensive awareness to play as a wing-back or the technical quality to operate as a number ten.
The Argentinian international is best deployed as a left-winger in a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 formation; exactly the set-up used by Antonio Conte in Naples this season.
There have also been question marks over Garnacho’s attitude and approach to training. In December, the 20-year-old was dropped, alongside Marcus Rashford, for the Manchester Derby with Amorim citing performances at Carrington as the reason.
However, Garnacho was immediately reinstated to the first-team squad for the next match, while Rashford remained side lined, eventually joining Aston Villa on loan in January. Amorim has publicly praised the Argentine’s work-rate and effort levels on multiple occasions since.
If United were forced to cash in one of their exciting young talents to help fund an overhaul of the first-team squad, Garnacho appears the most likely candidate, despite his manager’s positive words in interviews.
But Italian journalist Niccolo Ceccarini (as relayed by GIFN) reveals the asking price for the winger could reach as low as €45 million this summer, when it was previously around the €60 million mark in the winter window, due to Garnacho’s frustrating form.
This “major discount” is likely to reignite Napoli’s interest in Garnacho with Conte described as still “keen” on signing the 20-year-old, leading Ceccarini to conclude a transfer is “possible.”
Whether INEOS would accept such a drastic cut in valuation remains to be seen, with the focus at Old Trafford expected to revolve around ensuring the permanent exits of Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Antony before the departures of existing members of Amorim’s squad are considered.
Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images
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Darragh Fox
Darragh is a writer for The Peoples Person who spent three years as a history graduate slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about.
