Manchester United have reportedly rejected an offer from Napoli for Alejandro Garnacho, as they feel he is worth far more than what has been offered.

Garnacho’s status at United has changed rapidly of late. He went from a promising youngster to a first-team regular in little time, and was seen as an untouchable asset just a short few months ago.

But Ruben Amorim removed him from his squad for December’s Manchester derby, and cost-cutting measures are being undertaken by Sir Jim Ratcliffe, meaning nobody is safe, Garnacho included.

He is seen as the No.1 target for Serie A side Napoli – following the exit of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia – and according to the Mirror, they have lodged a bid for the United man, but it has been turned away.

The report states that the Red Devils rejected a £40million offer from Napoli, as they maintain that Garnacho is worth £60million.

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365:
👉 Man Utd: Ratcliffe ‘blocks’ Rashford move as Euro giant drops out of race over ‘excessive’ demands
👉 Man Utd transfer: Garnacho ‘agreement’ reached after Barcelona meeting as Liverpool alternative named
👉 Expert gives Man Utd transfer update on 32-goal star and ‘dream’ striker target

There is a belief that Garnacho is willing to leave, but United are ready to play hardball to get the price they feel they deserve.

Whether Napoli intend to go back in with a better offer is not mentioned in the report. However, with Kvaratskhelia leaving for £70million, they would be able to pay what United want.

Whether they themselves feel that Garnacho is worth that remains to be seen. If the winger does leave, he’s unlikely to be the only player to do so in January.

It’s felt that a very small offer could be accepted for Casemiro in order to get his massive wages off the books. Marcus Rashford’s future remains up in the air, and other players could follow if the right offers come in.

READ MORE: Man Utd emerge as shock ‘main candidate’ for Liverpool star after £70m bid rejected

Manchester United have reportedly emerged as the ‘main candidate’ to sign Darwin Nunez from Liverpool as the Red Devils look to strike a ‘symbolic blow’ to their bitter rivals.

Nunez – who joined the club for a £64m upfront fee that could rise to a club-record £85m – has never entirely convinced at Anfield and is enduring a particularly difficult third season under new manager Arne Slot.

He’s managed just four goals and four assists in 26 appearances across all competitions, and with Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota all impressing along with the indomitable Mohamed Salah, reports suggest Liverpool would be willing to listen to offers for the Uruguayan.

It was earlier this month that AC Milan were ‘preparing a bid’ for the striker, proposing a six-month loan deal with a £41.5m obligation to buy in the summer, but their interest in United star Marcus Rashford appears to have put that potential deal on the back-burner, with Sergio Conceicao replacing compatriot Paulo Fonseca at the helm another possible explanation for a change of tack.

But Spanish outlet Fichajes claimed earlier this week that Milan remain in the running for the 25-year-old, while Spanish giants Atletico Madrid are also thought to be keeping tabs.

Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal have reportedly made most progress over the deal though.

The Liverpool forward is said to have ‘an incredible contract offer to consider’ from Al-Hilal with the Saudi Arabian outfit ‘ready to pay Nunez around £400k per week if he moves there’, which equates to £20.8m per year.

Liverpool are said to have ‘rejected an extraordinary first offer’ for Nunez, worth around £70m.

MORE MANCHESTER UNITED COVERAGE ON F365
👉 Man Utd: Ratcliffe ‘blocks’ Rashford move as Euro giant drops out of race over ‘excessive’ demands
👉 Man Utd transfer: Garnacho ‘agreement’ reached after Barcelona meeting as Liverpool alternative named
👉 Expert gives Man Utd transfer update on 32-goal star and ‘dream’ striker target

It is noted that the ‘expectation was that he would leave Anfield at the end of the season if Slot couldn’t get the best out of him’, but his spell at Liverpool ‘could be ending this month’.

And that possibility appears to have caught the attention of Manchester United, who have ’emerged as the main candidate for his services’.

The report adds:

‘For Manchester United, getting Núñez would represent not only a strategic incorporation, but also a symbolic blow in the transfer market. Incorporating a player from their maximum rival would be a bold move, a reflection of the ambition they pursue under the command of Rúben Amorim. In addition, the style of the Uruguayan seems to fit with the needs of the Dutch coach, who is looking for a striker capable of combining strength, speed and efficiency in front of the goal.

‘The future of the Uruguayan attacker could be resolved in the coming weeks, with the interest of United marking the course of the negotiations. Darwin Núñez, whose talent is undeniable, could be about to star in one of the most controversial and significant signings of recent times in English football. The possibility of seeing him dressed in red, but at Old Trafford, promises to intensify the rivalry between both clubs.’

Jamie Carragher believes Manchester United should sell Alejandro Garnacho if they receive a “good offer” for the winger.

Having previously been an ‘untouchable’ member of the squad, Garnacho could be on his way out of Old Trafford this month with United attracted by the idea of his ‘pure profit’ sale.

A report on Wednesday claimed Napoli has reached an ‘agreement’ with the Argentinian’s representatives, though the Serie A side aren’t willing to pay the €70m the Red Devils want for their prized asset.

Garnacho has started just half of United’s Premier League games this season and has struggled for minutes since being dropped by Amorim for last month’s Manchester derby, at which point rumours of his exit began

Fellow academy graduate Kobbie Mainoo has also been linked with a move away, with Chelsea ready to pounce amid a standoff between the 19-year-old and the United bosses over a new contract.

Carragher reckons United should keep Mainoo but should be open to Garnacho’s sale if a decent bid comes in for the Argentina international.

“Mainoo you’ve got to keep. Mainoo looks to me like he could be a really good player,” Carragher said on The Overlap.

“But Garnacho, I don’t know. If you got good money for Garnacho… I think if you got a good offer for him it wouldn’t be the end of the world.”

Arsenal hero Ian Wright tipped Garnacho to make a move to Italy, adding: “Garnacho has AC Milan vibes, he’s got those vibes. He’s got that look about him.”

MORE MANCHESTER UNITED COVERAGE ON F365
👉 Man Utd: Ratcliffe ‘blocks’ Rashford move as Euro giant drops out of race over ‘excessive’ demands
👉 Man Utd transfer: Garnacho ‘agreement’ reached after Barcelona meeting as Liverpool alternative named
👉 Expert gives Man Utd transfer update on 32-goal star and ‘dream’ striker target

United legend Gary Neville is uneasy at the prospect of Manchester United selling any academy players who are playing regular first-team football.

“I don’t like the idea of United selling academy players,” he said.

“I didn’t like it when Chelsea were selling there ones when they were in the first-team, I certainly don’t like the idea of United doing it.

“I get it if they’re on the cusp of playing but if they’re actually in the first-team, you can’t…”

Amorim addressed speculation over Garnacho’s future ahead of his side’s clash with Southampton on Thursday.

Asked if Garnacho had the talent to have a bright future at Old Trafford, Amorim said: “That is clear.

“He has talent. He needs to learn to play in a different position. He needs to play better inside. He improves a lot recovering (his) position when he doesn’t have the ball.

“But doing that, sometimes he’s not in the right place to make transitions like he was in the past because I prefer to defend and then build up with all the team to reach the final third.

“He’s finding the best way to play in this system. He’s improving during training. He started the last game. Let’s see (against Southampton).”

Manchester United would accept “any fee” for Casemiro according to football finance expert Stefan Borson, as the club “just want him gone”, though they do have one route in mind above others.

Casemiro has started just half of United’s 10 Premier League games this season. What’s more, since Ruben Amorim took charge, the boss has shown a clear preference for Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte.

Casemiro is reportedly the highest earner at United, making £350,000 per week. That is a lot of money to pay somebody to sit on the bench.

As such, Borson believes the club would accept any sum to push him and his contract out of the door in January.

“Clearly, nobody wants to buy either an old player, an underperforming player or a player on high wages,” Borson told Football Insider.

“United have got a number of players who are a combination of all three of those. Those players are just going to be very hard to shift unless you effectively give them away or subsidise the moves.

“Clearly, Saudi is the answer to everything for a club like United, but there are few slots available for players in Saudi right now.

MORE ON MAN UTD FROM F365:
👉 Five steps to Marcus Rashford returning to Manchester United for £86m in Paul Pogba repeat
👉 Man Utd transfer blow as ‘failed medical’ at RB Leipzig sees ‘deal collapse’ amid Rashford interest
👉 Man Utd transfer: Left-back ‘completes medical’ as Red Devils ‘beat’ Arsenal to Amorim’s first signing

“If you look at Casemiro’s situation, United would love to sell him in January to Saudi. I’m sure they would sell him for any fee, £5million or whatever just to get him off the wage bill.

“But again, he’s another player on maybe £350,000 a week. They just want him gone at his age and they would write it off.

“Although they have got probably something like £15million book value-wise on him, so they have to be slightly careful because they don’t want to create an additional loss for PSR.

“But assuming somebody effectively gets them out from a neutral position from a PSR perspective, I’m sure they would want him out.”

Some feel that Casemiro will also want to leave given his current standing at United, such as former defender Ferdinand, who feels the change in his playing time is something he’s going to have to adapt to if he remains.

READ MORE: Ferdinand tips ‘unhappy’ Man Utd star to leave in January after Amorim decision vs Arsenal

Manchester United and Napoli are still some way apart in their valuation of Alejandro Garnacho after ‘discussing a €38m fee’ for the winger.

Having previously been an ‘untouchable’ member of the squad, Garnacho could be on his way out of Old Trafford this month with United attracted by the idea of his ‘pure profit’ sale.

A report on Wednesday claimed Napoli has reached an ‘agreement’ with the Argentinian’s representatives, but the Independent now claim negotiations aren’t quite that advanced, though personal terms aren’t expected to be an issue.

The report states:

‘Napoli have already started some work on a potential deal, and Garnacho is understood to be open to a move to the Italian club, although personal terms are yet to be agreed. The player’s pace fits manager Antonio Conte’s ideal for how he wants the team to play.

‘While it is anticipated the personal terms would not be an issue should it get to that stage with Garnacho, there may have to be considerable negotiation on fee.’

It’s claimed ‘the two clubs have discussed a €38m fee suggested by Napoli’, but United are holding out for a similar fee to the €70m Paris Saint-Germain paid the Serie A side for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Garnacho has started just half of United’s Premier League games this season and has struggled for minutes since being dropped by Amorim for last month’s Manchester derby, at which point rumours of his exit began.

Jamie Carragher claims United should accept a “good offer” for the 20-year-old and Gary Neville says he “wouldn’t be surprised” if the club sanctioned the exits of both Garnacho and fellow academy graduate Marcus Rashford as Amorim looks to “wrestle control” like legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

MORE MANCHESTER UNITED COVERAGE ON F365
👉 Man Utd: Ratcliffe ‘blocks’ Rashford move as Euro giant drops out of race over ‘excessive’ demands
👉 Man Utd transfer: Garnacho ‘agreement’ reached after Barcelona meeting as Liverpool alternative named
👉 Expert gives Man Utd transfer update on 32-goal star and ‘dream’ striker target

Amorim addressed speculation over Garnacho’s future ahead of his side’s clash with Southampton on Thursday.

Asked if Garnacho had the talent to have a bright future at Old Trafford, Amorim said: “That is clear.

“He has talent. He needs to learn to play in a different position. He needs to play better inside. He improves a lot recovering (his) position when he doesn’t have the ball.

“But doing that, sometimes he’s not in the right place to make transitions like he was in the past because I prefer to defend and then build up with all the team to reach the final third.

“He’s finding the best way to play in this system. He’s improving during training. He started the last game. Let’s see (against Southampton).”