New Delhi: Chelsea have stepped up efforts to sign winger Alejandro Garnacho from Manchester United. According to The Athletic report, both clubs have been in talks over Garnacho for some time, but things have now advanced, and the Argentine expects to move to the London club.
He rejected several offers from other clubs this summer to stay in the Premier League. Garnacho was one of five Manchester United players who were asked to find a new club.
Chelsea’s interest in the United forward increased after the Red Devils agreed a deal in principle to sign striker Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. According to The Athletic report, the deal is worth €76.5million with €8.5 million in add-ons. The player has been given permission to travel for medical tests ahead of the proposed transfer.
Chelsea have held a long-standing interest in the winger, and he would be the second forward from Old Trafford to join Chelsea after Jadon Sancho, who moved to Stamford Bridge on loan last season. He would become the ninth signing of the London club in the summer transfer window, after winning the Club World Cup and Conference League last season.
A price of £70million has previously been communicated by Manchester United to the interested parties. After the Europa League defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, head coach Ruben Amorim told Garnacho to find a new club in a meeting with the squad after the 21-year-old expressed his frustrations of not playing a bigger role in the final.
“Up until the final, I’ve played every round, and today to play 20 minutes… I don’t know,” Garnacho said. The Red Devils also rejected an approach from Napoli that month. He also paid for the team dinner by means of an apology following his reaction to being substituted off against Ipswich Town.
‘It’s clear Garnacho wants a different thing’: Ruben Amorim
The Manchester United manager, Ruben Amorim, was asked about Garnacho during the Premier League Summer Series in Chicago last week, and he said that you can see he is a talented boy, but sometimes things don’t work out.
“You cannot explain specifically what it is, but I have the feeling it’s clear Garnacho wants a different thing with a different leadership. I can understand that. It is not a problem. Sometimes you adapt to one guy and have a connection, other times you want a new challenge. It’s a natural thing in football,” Amorim added.