Chelsea keep working to secure the signing of Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho
The 2024/25 season has been nothing short of a disaster for Manchester United. 15th place in the Premier League, losing to Spurs in the Europa League final, and now out of European football in 2025/26 were big setbacks for a club of the stature of the Red Devils. Ruben Amorim took over as manager mid-season, but could not stop the decline.
This summer, the club added high-profile players such as Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, as well as betting on young Diogo Leon. Benjamin Sesko was also signed, as Rasmus Hojlund failed last season. Meanwhile, the story of Alejandro Garnacho has taken a different turn. He no longer fits into Amorim’s plans, and the club want to earn big bucks by selling him in this window.
United’s transfer strategy looks a little different this time. It is clear from the new signings that Amorim wants to build a fast, direct and goal-hungry team. However, the sidelining of a talent like Garnacho is surprising, but he has suffered a rift with Amorim, with United needing money from sales. On the other hand, time is passing in the transfer market, and Chelsea’s interest are now clearly visible.
Real situation of transfer tussle for Garnacho
Chelsea keep working to secure the signing of Manchester United outcast Alejandro Garnacho.
Chelsea are working with Alejandro Garnacho’s agent to agree a deal as they currently “hold all the cards” in the negotiations with Manchester United
According to a report by Football Insider, deep talks have taken place between Chelsea and Garnacho’s agent. Former financial advisor to Manchester City, Stefan Borson, believes that United themselves have created such a situation where the player has been clearly told that he is not part of the team. His contract is still valid till 2028, but United are asking for £50million, while Chelsea’s valuation is close to £30million. According to Borson, Chelsea can wait and confirm the deal on the last day, due to which United will have to agree to a lower price. The Blues have been interested on the winger whole summer.
“United have created a situation where the player has been told that he’s not wanted.
“He’ll be on probably £100,000 a week for a player of his age. It doesn’t look like he can come back into the team. It doesn’t look like the manager’s got any appetite at all for that, so he’s got to go somewhere.
“But because his wage is more manageable, I think there’ll be a host of clubs that would take him in the worst-case scenario that there were no buyers.
“Chelsea look like they’ve done sufficient work with the agent so that he only wants to go to Chelsea, so that’s great for Chelsea because they’re just holding all the cards and can just wait.
“They don’t need him immediately. They can wait until the last day of the window, and chances are they’ll pick him up on a sort of deal that they did for Sancho, but probably with a fee agreed.
“I doubt they’d have the ability to give him back, but I think they’ll probably end up with him for £30-35million.
“There are no other buyers. If they have removed any other option from the deal, which it seems that they have, United can talk about him being worth whatever they like, but the reality is that United want to sell and there’s only one buyer.
“If that’s where it gets to, he’ll end up at Chelsea for a lower than perfect fee.”
Garnacho’s biggest strength is his speed and ability to trick defenders. He can change the course of the game from the flanks. However, the 21-year-old’s place in Amorim’s strict tactical structure has diminished. Now his next destination may be Stamford Bridge.
What would be the right decision for United?
We believe that, at this time, United should focus on two key areas: strengthening the team’s forward line and maintaining a balanced dressing room atmosphere. Keeping Garnacho forcibly will neither keep the players happy nor will it benefit the team. If Chelsea go up to £35 million, it would be better to accept this deal, so that the club can spend on other needs.
We guess that this deal will happen in the final days of this window. Chelsea will wait, United will come under pressure, and finally Garnacho will be seen in the blue jersey. It will be a bitter pill for the fans, but in the current situation it seems to be the most practical way for the club.