Alejandro Garnacho has reached an agreement with Chelsea to join the club before the end of the summer transfer window; the Argentine “wants” to sign for Enzo Maresca’s side.
Alejandro Garnacho could have been a Manchester United player for the next 10 years, maybe even the next 15, but after his comments in a post-match interview of the Europa League final, his destiny seems certain.
Erik ten Hag was clearly a huge fan of the Argentine, as he found a way to keep him in the side, despite the form of Marcus Rashford in the early months of 2023. However, when the Dutchman left the club, Garnacho no longer had a natural spot in the starting team.
Unlike the former Ajax manager, Rúben Amorim doesn’t play a formation with natural wingers who stretch the pitch, meaning Garnacho had to move inside and play as one of the two attacking midfielders, but he was never quite at home in the system.
Despite not being in his natural position, the Argentine continue to impress in the Europa League for United, registering five goal contributions in the competition. But, he was left out of the side for the final against Tottenham Hotspur, due to Mason Mount’s form after he returned from injury.
Garnacho came on late in the game, playing as a left-wing-back to try to rescue a goal for United, but he couldn’t help the team score a goal, and he late his frustrations be known. Unfortunately, that was all they wrote for the No.17, as an agreement to leave the club has now been agreed.
Garnacho agrees personal terms with Chelsea
A transfer was the most likely scenario this summer, but a loan move could still be considered if United are unhappy with the permanent offer they receive. Chelsea look favourites to sign Garnacho, after the winger came close to joining the club in the January transfer window.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Garnacho has now agreed personal terms with Chelsea, amid an offer from Enzo Maresca’s side, likely coming after the sales of Nicolas Jackson and Christopher Nkunku.
“Chelsea have an agreement with Alejandro Garnacho on personal terms,” said Romano on his YouTube channel. “Garnacho only wants to go to Chelsea, I told you several times that he rejected all the approaches from different countries, from different clubs. He wants to go to Chelsea.”
“Chelsea are really convinced about Garnacho, and Garnacho is really convinced about Chelsea as the perfect opportunity for him. Already in January, Garnacho wanted to go to Chelsea.”
An agreement on a valuation between United and Chelsea remains the only barrier to completing a deal, and this process may now be sped up as Jason Wilcox appears to have finalised a deal for Benjamin Sesko, who could be announced at the Fiorentina game.
It has been reported elsewhere that United want around £50 million for the 21-year-old this summer, although Chelsea are unwilling to meet this price tag.
What could have been for Garnacho
Garnacho is one of the most exciting players to break through to United’s first team in recent years, with his tricky dribbling down the left-hand side, while having the ability to curl it into the far corner or play a deep cross into the box.
It will be a while before fans forget his cameo against Aston Villa – Garnacho replaced Antony Martial after 62 minutes and got two assists to see United through into the next round of the Carabao Cup.
Bruno Fernandes scored the first from the Argentine’s brilliance, while Scott McTominay scored the fourth and final goal after a brilliant deep cross from Garnacho, just far away enough from the goalkeeper and just close enough to the goal that McTominay could just tap it home.
While his form wasn’t always there last season, Garnacho will be missed by United fans, as the days of exciting wingers may have left Old Trafford. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo will hope they can replace tricky wide players, with their quick feet in the centre of the pitch.
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