After failing to tempt Alejandro Garnacho away from Manchester United in January, Napoli are set to go all out for the Argentine’s signature in the summer.
Following back-to-back impressive performances against Lyon in the Europa League quarter final and Wolves in the Premier League, it looks like Alejandro Garnacho is going to have a strong end to the season.
Given the freedom to play more as a winger rather than an attacking midfielder by Ruben Amorim, Garnacho’s performances have improved, linking up well with the players around him.
While he’s been rightly criticised by his lack of finishing edge, he’s still managed to notch ten goals and nine assists across all competitions this season.
Following on from Napoli’s pursuit of the Argentine in the January transfer window, they are expected to revisit the chase, and it’s reported that they will not take no for an answer.
Napoli back in for Garnacho
In January, Napoli saw a £42 million bid turned down by United, with The Reds holding firm in their valuation of £60 million for the 20 year-old.
Following the departure of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, David Neres being injured, and Noah Okafor underperforming, the hole on the left is even more evident at the Italian club and Antonio Conte is said to only be after one player to fill that hole, Garnacho.
According to reports from calciomercato, Conte’s ‘number one objective’ is for the club to sign Garnacho thus summer. The ex-Chelsea boss was unhappy that a deal couldn’t be made in January and expects him to join next season ‘whatever the cost’.
INEOS are said to no longer see Garnacho as being unsellable and if a suitable offer comes in, they would be willing to part ways with him. Another key aspect of a sale would be that the Argentine has homegrown status, meaning his sale would be pure profit.
Will United live to regret a potential Garnacho sale?
Amorim was outspoken in January about his desire to keep Garnacho at Old Trafford for years to come, and was at odds with INEOS on keeping the player.
With a long list of players set to leave Old Trafford this summer, Garnacho could be one to regret in the coming years if Napoli meet United’s new valuation of £50 million.
Although he’s come under major criticism for his occasional selfishness on the ball and lack of cutting edge, we must not forget that he is still just 20 years old. Garnacho has had more goal involvements than Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age for United, just showing the sheer talent they have on their hands.
If Garnacho did walk out of Old Trafford this summer for the switch to the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, it would greatly help United’s transfer spending ability this summer, but the question of whether it’s worth sacrificing the talent on hand is a tough one to answer.
If a deal was made, United should do everything possible to include a buy-back clause in case Garnacho realises his full potential and becomes an even greater star.
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