Alejandro Garnacho's Manchester United exit looks to be a mere formality following Ruben Amorim's decision to give him the boot, marking a disappointing close to a once-promising career at Old Trafford. The 20-year-old Argentinian winger was tipped as the next Cristiano Ronaldo after stepping up to the first team under Erik ten Hag.
However, he has seen a stark reversal of fortunes with Amorim, only exacerbated by his comments following the Europa League final loss to Tottenham. After labelling United's season as "s***" and venting frustration over being benched despite playing every round prior, Garnacho found himself on the receiving end of Amorim's wrath at an end-of-season meeting. Per the Daily Mail, the United manager singled him out as he said: "You better pray that you can find a club to sign you." This stern rebuke seems to signal the end of his time with the Red Devils. Though Garnacho's price tag has been set in the region of £60-70 million, suitors are queuing up to whisk him away from his Old Trafford nightmare.
Napoli
The freshly crowned Serie A champions were turned down before after tabling a £40m bid this past January, but they remain the front-runners for Garnacho, who is eyed as a direct successor to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia following his exit for PSG during the winter window.
Former United ace Scott McTominay has excelled under Antonio Conte, who could repeat that trick with Garnacho. McTominay has become a cult hero in just one season thanks to his efforts in front of goal.
The i claim that Napoli's sporting director Giovanni Manna is gearing up for fresh discussions regarding the winger. The financial divide between the clubs' valuation might prove a hurdle, though.
Chelsea
Chelsea are rarely not on the lookout for fresh firepower and Todd Boehly seems ready to splash the cash yet again this summer. They may need to sweeten the deal to snag Garnacho from INEOS given they'd be strengthening a domestic rival.
And Enzo Maresca certainly isn't short of options in attack. Although it remains to be seen whether Jadon Sancho's loan switch will be made permanent.
And the likes of Noni Madueke and Pedro Neto appear more comfortable on the right wing. That potentially leaves a gap in the starting XI for Garnacho to fill.
Atletico Madrid
A return to his former club is another possibility. Garnacho enjoyed five years in Atletico's youth setup before chasing his "dream" in 2020 and joining United.
He isn't an obvious match for Diego Simeone's strict 4-4-2 system, but his fellow countryman's admiration from the Spanish capital could see him push for a deal regardless.
Both Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez have had impressive seasons, scoring 20 and 17 league goals, respectively. This could mean Garnacho might need to drop a bit deeper and put in more effort, something Amorim has often accused him of lacking.
AC Milan
At the San Siro he could enjoy more freedom in attack than in Madrid. Both Inter and AC have been linked with a move for him, but if Rafael Leao leaves, it could put the latter in pole position.
Leao has been linked with numerous clubs, including United. A swap deal could be on the cards if Garnacho is interested.
Milan have been mentioned in Italian reports as one of the early negotiators, alongside Napoli. However, their lack of European football next season puts them at a disadvantage.
Bayer Leverkusen
The appointment of Ten Hag at the BayArena has naturally led to suggestions of a reunion for Garnacho in Germany. Leverkusen certainly won't be short of funds this summer.
With Liverpool activating Jeremie Frimpong's £29.5m release clause and reportedly closing in on a £100m-plus deal for Florian Wirtz, Ten Hag will have a substantial budget for the transfer window.
Garnacho's profile suggests he could do well in Germany, and he was productive under the Dutchman at United. However, it could be a riskier move with the club in a transitional period following Xabi Alonso's departure.