Alejandro Garnacho has narrowed his future down to two possible options after missing out on the Argentina squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.
At the end of last season, Alejandro Garnacho was dropped from Rúben Amorim’s matchday squad for the final Premier League game of the season, when Manchester United took victory over Aston Villa.
The Argentine was included in the post-season tour in Asia, but that was simply to fulfil his contractual obligations, rather than to prepare for this season as a key player for Amorim – there was no way back after his statements in a post-match interview of the Europa League final.
Then came the five exiles, a group of players that Amorim didn’t want to include in his first-team plans, and weren’t included in the pre-season tour squad for the Premier League Summer Series in the USA.
Garnacho – along with Antony, Tyrell Malacia, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho – were told they must leave the club before the beginning of the season, as they wouldn’t be playing under Amorim, but four of the five outcasts remain at the club.
Rashford’s loan move represents a temporary solution for United, but with more additions still wanted, it is crucial that Jason Wilcox and the transfer team can sell the remaining “Bomb Squad” members.
Garnacho narrows future to United or Chelsea
Recent reports suggest that Garnacho’s move to Chelsea is edging towards completion, with a deal needing to be finalised before the transfer deadline, just over a week away.
The Athletic have reported that Garnacho remains a priority target, as Enzo Maresca is searching for another left-sided player to provide competition for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, who joined Chelsea from Borussia Dortmund earlier in the window.
They continue to say that Garnacho has ruled out all options other than moving to Stamford Bridge or staying at Old Trafford this summer, although being reintegrated into the United first-team squad seems highly unlikely.
With Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo added to the already impressive attacking midfield options, also including Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo and Mason Mount, Garnacho could find it very difficult to work his way back into the side.
However, the Argentine will be fighting hard for game time no matter his club at the end of the window, as the World Cup is at the end of the season and the No.17 has been left out of the upcoming qualifiers, putting doubt over his international future if he doesn’t leave M16.
United will struggle to remove all exiled players
With United still searching for a midfielder, and potentially a goalkeeper or central defender, selling the rest of the exiled players will be crucial for the transfer budget, especially considering United missed out on European football last season.
However, selling the remaining outcasts could prove difficult, despite receiving offers for all of them. Garnacho’s move appears to be the most likely, but the other three could be difficult to sell.
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Malacia reportedly received offers from Saudi Arabia, but preferred to stay in Europe and hasn’t accelerated a move away from the club. He could be the most likely to stay at Old Trafford, providing a backup option for Patrick Dorgu, while Diego Leon settles into life in Manchester.
Like the Dutch full-back, Antony and Sancho have also had offers to leave the club, but both have turned down the approaches. The former Ajax winger wants to return to Real Betis, but they can only afford a loan move, while Sancho appears to care more about his United pay-off than his future club.
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