Arsenal were originally in the frame but have pulled out of the running for out-of-favour Manchester United star, Alejandro Garnacho. Several clubs have been keen on the services of the winger but no deal is confirmed yet.
Mikel Arteta decided to distance the club from signing the Argentinian star. The club were linked with pursuing the deal but reportedly made a firm decision to seek answers elsewhere viewing the potential problems not worth the upside of Garnacho.
Arsenal’s backroom staff’s research did not yield positive results, and thereby led to the abandonment of the deal for Garnacho despite his clear talent and what he could offer the team.
The former Atletico Madrid forward enjoyed a decent spell with Manchester United last season. Making 58 appearances for the Red Devils, scoring 11 goals and setting up another 10 but clearly did not see eye to eye with Portuguese gaffer, Ruben Amorim.
Garnacho was disappointed at the end of last season when he failed to nail down a starting place in the Europa League final XI against Tottenham Hotspur. The public displeasure shown by the player revealed the level of the rift between the player and United’s boss.
Some journalists strongly feel United won’t miss Garnacho even if he goes on to excel with rivals Chelsea who are favoured as the team to sign him. Such is the need to fix the attitude problems at Old Trafford, Garnacho’s talent and potential are viewed as not worth the risk by Man United.
Who are Arsenal looking to sign having turned down Utd’s forward?
Arsenal were at one time interested in a deal with the Manchester giants to add more options on both wings, but have clearly gone in a different direction, adding Noni Madueke and being strongly linked with signing Eberechi Eze who helped Palace win the FA Cup.
Eze was the hero for Palace in the Final, scoring the winner and he also scored 14 goals and assisted on 11 occasions last season in what was a very impressive campaign which surely has him already on the plane to America next year for the World Cup. Eze also helped Palace win the Community Shield vs Liverpool and is at the peak of his powers.
It’s clear fans want the Gunners to sign Eberechi Eze – a brief glance on social media makes this very clear. The England and Crystal Palace midfielder is a silky, mega-talented creative attacker who would offer an x-factor to the team and former players and pundits all seem to agree this signing would be quite the coup.
As we know Rodrygo has been strongly linked with a move to North London but questions remain about how he would adapt to the Premier League and whether he is worth his mammoth wages. A loan move has been mooted for the Brazilian winger who seems to not be in the plans of new Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso but Arsenal don’t appear to be prioritising Rodrygo yet.
Arsenal’s stance does make sense as with Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Noni Madueke and Leandro Trossard already offering plenty of options out wide it’s hard to see if Garnacho could improve the Gunners or is worth risking adding to a solid group of players. How the Argentinian winger fares in London if he joins Chelsea remains to be seen.
What do the Arsenal fans think?
In a poll conducted in the month of June by GoonerNews.com asking Arsenal fans their views on who the club should sign between Eze, Rodrygo or both the results were pretty conclusive.
With over 4,000 votes recorded meaning it is certainly statistically relevant, in 1st place 50% of voters thought the Gunners should sign Eberechi Eze, in 2nd place at almost 28% came signing both (this is an unlikely outcome but who knows given the way this transfer window has gone) and 3rd with just under 22% was signing Rodrygo.
The addition of Eze remains the transfer which would really excite Arsenal fans and make a statement to rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and Man City. However whether Eze would get the game time he wants given the Arsenal squad could be an issue unless another forward leaves the club.
Who do the bookies favour the Palace midfielder joining?
Arsenal remain the favourites to sign Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace. He has a £68m release clause in his contract with the Eagles.
Tottenham, Chelsea and Bayern Munich are amongst the other clubs keen on the England international. (Oddschecker)
#Arsenal #PremierLeague pic.twitter.com/PDNZAiYQNl
— Gooner News (@goonernews) July 30, 2025
The fallout at Man Utd for Garnacho
Following the attitude of the winger in the Europa League Final and indeed the way he clashed with Amorim, the player was deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford.
Garnacho has spent the entire summer seeking new opportunities, the club has him training away from the 1st team with other “bad apples” in Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia.
With the transfer deadline set for 1st September, Manchester United and Alejandro Garnacho are operating on a tight timeline.
Despite interest from several suitors, the 21-year-old star is yet to find a new club.
Who will bid for Garnacho and what fee could be involved?
Atletico Madrid, Garnacho’s boyhood club, were also linked with a move for the player but ended up signing Villareal’s Alex Baena. Arsenal’s rivals, Tottenham, too, were attempting to sign the player.
As things stand, Chelsea are the club in a prime position to land the Argentinian winger.
The player is particularly fond of the Stamford Bridge side and has decided to only move to London this summer with many thinking it’s just a matter of time before the deal is concluded.
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Manchester United are seeking £50 million as a transfer fee for the starlet. The longer this saga goes on the more it suits the West London club as United are unlikely to want to keep him around.
Chelsea are, of course, not so convinced by the asking price and might look to seal the deal for £35 million. The Blues are holding the cards you would argue, given that Amorim has made it clear he sees no future for the player at United which ESPN’s Don Hutchison felt was foolish to reveal as it has lowered the players transfer value..
The Red-Devils need the money to finance the other additions the club wants to bring in to Old Trafford like Brighton’s midfield general, Carlos Baleba and Barcelona’s in demand star also linked with Chelsea.
With personal terms agreed and negotiations underway between the two clubs, it seems a matter of time before the transfer materialises for Garnacho.
Manchester United Vs Arsenal in PL opener
All these transfers could affect who plays when United face the Gunners in their PL opener with potential competitive debuts for Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres for their respective new clubs.
Which striker will get off to a fast start and handle the pressure best? Gyokeres has the backing and belief of his manager and seems like he is ready having scored in preseason.
While United are reportedly going to give Sesko his debut this weekend available live on Sky Sports Premier League this Sunday from 4pm; with kick-off 4.30pm.
Follow your teams’ results and fixtures and squad info on our team pages – Arsenal and Manchester United plus check the League tables here
It’s gonna be quite a season.
Read AI Predictions for the Premier League 2025/26 season