Familiar European giants enter the race for “the heart and soul” of United, shock exit on the cards – report

With Manchester United languishing in 13th position in the Premier League, Ruben Amorim needs all the help he can get in the January transfer window to help the club escape their current predicament.

However, a massive summer splurge coupled with the payoff and compensation payments to former boss Erik ten Hag and Sporting Lisbon respectively have meant the club have very little wriggle room in terms of PSR.

That is why INEOS are mulling over the potential sales of academy graduates like Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho, previously thought as untouchables, as their sales would constitute pure profit.

While Chelsea are reportedly leading the race for the midfielder, the Argentine wonderkid has plenty of suitors with The Peoples Person naming Atletico Madrid as one of the interested parties.

Garnacho could be sold

However, the Spanish giants do not have fond recollections of the way the 20-year-old had departed for Old Trafford while Diego Simeone seems stacked in terms of options of the left wing.

That could give Paris Saint-Germain the chance to strike with The Times naming the Ligue 1 side as yet another interested party. However, the Parisian club are yet to submit a concrete proposal.

“Atletico Madrid are aware of Garnacho’s availability but are reluctant to make a move for the winger, partly because they are not looking to strengthen on the left wing.

“But also because the Argentina international left the Spanish club under a cloud in 2020, when United signed him on a free transfer following the expiry of his contract.

“Paris Saint-Germain are keeping tabs on Garnacho but have yet to make an offer for him.”

PSG keeping tabs

The Argentina international has not started since the Nottingham Forest defeat with Amorim excluding him from the matchday squad ahead of the Manchester derby.

His application both on and off the pitch and his body language were questioned by the head coach with the youngster recently responding by deactivating his Twitter/X account and registering the assist for Amad Diallo’s equaliser against Liverpool last Sunday.

Selling such a gem so soon into his career would be the wrong signal to send from United’s point of view with legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson previously terming Garnacho and Mainoo as “the heart, and soul” of United.

INEOS are looking to fetch more than £50 million from a possible sale. It would be far more logical to get rid of Marcus Rashford, who has already revealed his desire to quit, but his humongous wages and asking price have meant not too many clubs can afford the out-of-form forward.

Feature image Paul Ellis via Getty Images

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