Manchester United’s January transfer window was in a holding pattern until now but the loss to Brighton might be the wake-up call needed to get things moving.
Alejandro Garnacho might be a huge domino to fall because of his palatable wages and his status as an academy product, potentially netting Man Utd a substantial windfall.
So far, United look like they’ve waited on Marcus Rashford or Casemiro’s exit but with recent movements over Antony’s move to Real Betis, or Tyrell Malacia potentially leaving on loan, nobody seems safe.
In Garnacho, they’ve already got an interested party in Napoli, and now an agreement is close after Antonio Conte has personally intervened to get it moving.
Alejandro Garnacho-Napoli transfer gaining pace
Ruben Amorim has maintained that he wants to keep the talented players at Old Trafford but it is also clear that Garnacho doesn’t come into his strongest XI.
Moreover, the possibility of his sale and the transfer fee allowing United to start rebuilding the squad in Amorim’s image might be too good to resist.
Napoli’s £40 million bid for Garnacho has already been rejected but United know with Scott McTominay’s case, that if Antonio Conte fixates himself on a player, he more often than not gets him.
Corriere Dello Sport reports that Conte has personally intervened in the deal and spoken to Garnacho on the phone to get the deal moving quickly.
Now, an agreement between Garnacho and Napoli is “close”, with their sporting director Giovanni Manna set to resume talks with United soon.
The Italian outlet reports that Napoli are willing to go higher than their initial bid for Garnacho, perhaps as high as £50 million, although United might hold out for even more. That is the only hurdle remaining but the gap could be closing.
Man Utd should cash in, but only on their terms
A deal for Garnacho has the potential to transform United’s window but at the same time, every club knows that fact so the club has had to entertain lowball offers.
Garnacho, at just 20, is already a club and country regular, and before Amorim arrived, United’s key attacking threat whose raw numbers rivalled the very best at his age.
Just because he’s slightly out of favour under the new manager doesn’t mean his quality has vanished overnight, and that’s why United should be open to cashing in but only on their terms.
Even a sell-on clause wouldn’t go amiss, as he has the potential to eventually return to Spain on a blockbuster deal if things fall right for him in the next few years.
Garnacho has to be treated like a crown jewel who can transform United’s window, not a washed asset that needs selling.
Receive a digest of our best United content each week direct to your mailbox
