Manchester United could be aiming to solve two problems with one deal if the mooted swap between Alejandro Garnacho and Christopher Nkunku is any indication.
It is an open secret that Alejandro Garnacho’s Man Utd career is over, while the club are trying to add attacking reinforcements to a team that was allergic to scoring last season.
As such, a swap of Garnacho and Nkunku with Chelsea was thought to be in the works, although Man Utd should demand a fee on top of that.
Fabrizio Romano has now shared the latest on a deal that could solve two problems at once for United, albeit at a reduced skill level.
Christopher Nkunku of Chelsea during the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Chelsea and Morecambe
Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images
Latest on Alejandro Garnacho-Christopher Nkunku swap
United’s interest in Nkunku and Chelsea’s interest in Garnacho are not new, as both links have been developing since December 2024.
At the time, Garnacho was fresh off being dropped for the Manchester derby, while United wanted Nkunku as they had let go of Marcus Rashford and Antony with no replacements.
However, United only wanted to do a loan deal at the time, while Chelsea and Nkunku preferred a permanent solution.
On Garnacho’s front, he returned to the side by working hard so that the door was closed, especially for a Premier League rival mid-season.
More United News
However, the stars could be aligning now as Romano struck a hopeful tone regarding the move, albeit at an early stage.
He said: “Man Utd know that Nkunku is available on the market. Chelsea are looking for a winger and know that Garnacho will leave United. It’s a similar situation that could make sense for the two clubs; this is why we have suggestions of swap deals.
“I can tell you, as of tonight, concrete negotiations for the swap are not taking place. My understanding is that two clubs are fully aware, but no negotiations right now.”
Alejandro Garnacho transfer saga will stretch late in the window
Swap deals are not easy to execute at the smallest of scales, so there’s no way this deal will turn into anything concrete soon when the numbers involved are so big.
United have set an asking price of £70m for Garnacho, so they will want a fee over and above getting Nkunku, since his value has sunk after being a fringe player at Chelsea.
That is working with the assumption that United won’t look elsewhere at all, since Nkunku is not a natural No. 9.
He is similar to Cunha and Mbeumo, a sort of shadow striker who starts deep but provides a goal-scoring threat.
United need a striker more than a player who duplicates the skill set of their two signings (one potential signing!), so they may not move forward with this deal at all.
Ultimately, this is a deal that looks more like a marriage of convenience and necessity rather than desire.
If neither club gets any closer to resolving the future of their respective players near the deadline, they might come to the table to negotiate with each other.
This one is sure to drag late into the window.