Manchester United are “expected to accept” a €70 million proposal from Chelsea to sign Alejandro Garnacho with the 20-year-old winger “very keen on the move” to Stamford Bridge, according to an academy source.
Yesterday, Fabrizio Romano stated the London club were “set to approach” their rival over a move for Garnacho after receiving positive feedback from talks with the Argentine’s representatives.
Later, as relayed by The Peoples Person, this approach was confirmed with an Argentinian reporter revealing an offer had been made by Chelsea, though no details were given on the amount.
United are reluctantly open to selling Garnacho this month in an effort to combat the club’s precarious financial position. The Premier League’s Profits and Sustainability Rules are impeding the ability to sign players this month, while offering a distant threat of penalties in the future should the situation not improve.
As such, the 20-year-old winger is one of few candidates at Old Trafford who would command a considerable fee in the transfer market, whose status as an academy player ensures any money received from a sale would constitute a financial fair play treasure trove as ‘pure profit’.
Kobbie Mainoo, 19, would also fall into this category but the midfield starlet has a more obvious place in Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-3 system, either in central midfield or as one of the number tens.
Garnacho, by comparison, lacks the defensive awareness to play as a wingback and is a poor fit as a number ten, compared to his favoured left-wing position.
This unexpected potential expendability of such a young talent had put rival clubs on red alert, with Napoli emerging as an early frontrunner for Garnacho in a bid to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who joined Paris Saint-Germain in a €70 million move last week.
However, the Italian club are not willing to match United’s valuation of their young winger, believed to be a similar price of €70 million. But it appears Chelsea are prepared to go further than their continental competition for Garnacho.
MUFC Academy, a source with excellent information relating to the United academy, reveals Chelsea will match the €70 million valuation and the Red Devils are “expected to accept the proposal”.
EXCLUSIVE: Chelsea set to bid for Alejandro Garnacho today, proposal expected to be submitted soon for the United winger after initial positive talks with between both clubs. Chelsea and United have a good relationship after previously working on deals with each other.🚨🔵… pic.twitter.com/zMvs6P0sTi
— MUFC Academy (@mufcacademy91) January 24, 2025
Tweet: “Chelsea set to bid for Alejandro Garnacho today, proposal expected to be submitted soon for the United winger after initial positive talks with between both clubs. Chelsea and United have a good relationship after previously working on deals with each other.
Understand there’s a verbal agreement between Garnacho and Chelsea and negotiations will now start between clubs. Bid expected to be in the region of £60.5m.
United are expected to accept the proposal as it meets the valuation of €70m plus(around £60m) should Chelsea offer that. Garnacho has always favoured moving to Chelsea over Napoli. Chelsea will push to make it happen as player is very keen on the move, though he’s open to staying.
United have lined up three replacements to replace Garnacho and two play in the premier league for clubs currently in the bottom half of the premier league.”
The source contends Garnacho is “very keen” on joining Chelsea, as it’s thought his preference is to remain in England as opposed to Italy, but stresses the Argentinian international is “open to staying” at United as well.
There appears to be little driving this potential move other than balance sheets in the finance department at Old Trafford, which will make it even harder for fans to swallow if one of the club’s shining young talents joins a direct rival.
However, MUFC Academy also contends United have “lined up three replacements” should Garnacho leave, with two playing at clubs in the “bottom half of the Premier League.”
While no further information is given on the identifies of these targets, the description suggests Mattheus Cunha – star forward for 17th-place Wolverhampton Wanderers – could be one option.
The Brazilian is enjoying a brilliant season, despite playing in a struggling Wolves team. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked with the 25-year-old, while high-flying Nottingham Forest are prepared to make a “club-record” bid to win the race for him.
Cunha’s ability to play effectively as a number nine or a number ten, combined with his excellent physicality, work rate and technique, makes him an ideal player in Amorim’s system.
If Garnacho was to be sold, there are few candidates who would make a better replacement than the Wolves forward. But it would still prove a bitter pill to swallow to see the young Argentine in a blue shirt come February.
Feature image Julian Finney 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.
