The futures of both Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho are up in the air as the clock ticks down ahead of transfer deadline day, with Manchester United looking to offload both forwards
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho's future is hanging in the balance(Image: 2024 Omar Vega)
As the summer transfer window hurtles towards its September 1 deadline, the coming days could prove pivotal for Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Manchester United.
Both wingers find themselves at the heart of a tangled web of negotiations, valuations and rival club strategies, with Chelsea playing a particularly prominent role in how the saga unfolds.
The drama took a fresh twist when United rejected a bold proposal from Chelsea: a swap deal involving Garnacho and 19-year-old winger Tyrique George. For Garnacho, who has fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim, the move would have offered a fresh start at Stamford Bridge.
For Chelsea, it would have added a dynamic young attacker they have admired for months, and strength in depth for their understocked left flank. But United's refusal has stalled the process and left all parties recalibrating their options with precious little time remaining.
Garnacho's unsettled future
Once billed as the next jewel of United's attack, Garnacho has grown disillusioned with life under Amorim, who has shown little interest in reselecting the 21-year-old since their relationship broke down. United, however, are unwilling to let him leave on the cheap.
They initially set his valuation at around £70m, while Chelsea have pushed for a significantly reduced fee of closer to £30m, citing his fractured relationship with Amorim as justification for a discount.
United's counterargument has been clear: if Chelsea were willing to spend £52m on Jamie Gittens earlier this summer, then Garnacho - more experienced at Premier League level - deserves at least a similar price tag. That standoff has left negotiations at an impasse, with Chelsea hesitant to commit funds until they complete several key departures. Garnacho has other options but is prioritising Chelsea.
Alejandro Garnacho
Alejandro Garnacho's United career looks to be over, but a move to Chelsea isn't guaranteed
Chelsea's domino effect
For the Blues, the Garnacho pursuit is just one part of a broader rebuild. Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson, and Tyrique George are all likely to depart before the deadline, but their exits remain a work in progress.
Chelsea's ability to raise funds and free squad space could ultimately decide whether Garnacho or RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons - another target who has already agreed personal terms - arrive in West London.
Nkunku is perhaps the most complicated case. Injuries have restricted him since joining Chelsea, but his technical quality continues to attract interest. Bayern Munich are keen, though they prefer a loan, while Chelsea are determined to secure a permanent sale.
Aston Villa have also entered the race, with manager Unai Emery keen to add attacking variety. A reunion with RB Leipzig also remains on the table, with Chelsea reportedly offering the Bundesliga club the chance to re-sign their former star as part of their efforts to land Simons.
Nicolas Jackson covering his mouth while speaking to Christopher Nkunku during a Chelsea match
Chelsea want to offload both Nicolas Jackson (R) and Christopher Nkunku (L) this summer
Jackson's situation is equally uncertain. Despite a reasonably strong goal record in the Premier League, the Senegalese striker has been sidelined in Chelsea's early fixtures after slipping down the pecking order behind new arrivals Joao Pedro and Liam Delap.
He has admirers in both Aston Villa and Newcastle, with Jackson particularly open to reuniting with Emery, under whom he thrived at Villarreal. However, Chelsea's £70m asking price is a major sticking point, with suitors hoping that figure will fall as deadline pressure mounts.
George, meanwhile, has been earmarked for a big future at Stamford Bridge, but may find himself forced out sooner than expected. With the arrivals of Pedro, Gittens, Estevao and potentially Garnacho or Simons, opportunities for the teenager are dwindling.
While Chelsea initially planned to loan him out, George is now exploring a permanent move. Roma have emerged as frontrunners, making him their number one winger target after failing to land Sancho.
Sancho's search for an exit
Jadon Sancho looks on while on loan at Chelsea
Jadon Sancho is still waiting to seal an exit from Manchester United this summer(Image: Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/DeFodi via Getty Images)
For Sancho, the window has been one of false starts and frustration. United reportedly agreed a deal with Roma%20in%20add%2Dons.) earlier in the summer, only for the England international to reject the Serie A club's terms.
That decision now looks costly. Roma's pivot to George has left Sancho scrambling for alternatives, while United remain eager to offload a player who spent last season on loan at Chelsea but failed to fully convince.
Roma have not ruled out reigniting their interest in Sancho, but their focus on George suggests that United's hopes of moving him on are fading. Unless another suitor emerges late in the window, Sancho could be left stuck in limbo, his career once again stalled at Old Trafford.
The bigger picture
Chelsea's ambitions extend well beyond Garnacho and Simons, but the success of their plans hinges on moving players out. If deals for Nkunku, Jackson and George materialise, the Blues will have the funds and squad flexibility to push aggressively. If not, Garnacho may have to stay put - at least until January. It may even force Chelsea into a situation where they have to pick one of Simons or Garnacho.
Alejandro Garnacho reacts during Manchester United's clash with Chelsea
Time is running out for Garnacho to seal a move to Chelsea
For United, the situation is just as delicate. Garnacho remains a valuable saleable asset, capable of generating the kind of fee that could be reinvested before the deadline. But their refusal to accept Chelsea's opening gambit has slowed progress, leaving them in danger of being left with two unhappy wingers and no financial boost.
As the clock ticks down, the futures of Garnacho, Sancho and several Chelsea attackers remain intertwined. The resolution of Chelsea's outgoing business may ultimately dictate whether United can cash in - and whether two of their most unsettled players finally find fresh starts elsewhere.
What happens in the next few days could reshape squads at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge alike, and ripple across the European market.