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Manchester United will only entertain offers for Alejandaro Garnacho “over the course of the next 48 hours” due to head coach Ruben Amorim’s concerns there will not be enough time to sign a replacement if a last-minute exit is struck.
A report by Give Me Sport reveals the Red Devils are setting a deadline of Friday night for any approaches for Garnacho with Premier League rival Chelsea and Serie A leaders Napoli both expressing an interest in the 20-year-old winger this month.
Napoli have seen an official bid rejected as it fell far short of United’s valuation of Garnacho – thought to be in the region of €70 million. Chelsea, by contrast, have not tabled an offer for the Argentinian international but the London club are believed to be more willing to meet United’s demands than their Italian rival.
Old Trafford officials are reluctantly open to Garnacho’s departure due to the club’s precarious financial situation, driven by the pressures of the Premier League’s profits and sustainability rules (PSR).
Garnacho’s status as an academy player means his potential sale would constitute a treasure trove from a PSR perspective, with United able to spend multiple times more the fee they receive for the winger.
And with a number of key weaknesses in the team, as the United squad struggles to adapt to the 3-4-3 system Amorim is implementing, the injecting of a fee worth around €70 million would be a massive boost to the club’s recruitment abilities.
However, Amorim has praised Garnacho in recent weeks after the Portuguese coach reinstated the 20-year-old to the first-team, having dropped him for the Manchester Derby in December due to an issue with training and professionalism off the pitch.
Amorim is evidently aware of the Argentine’s talent and Garnacho remains one of the team’s biggest goal threats, with neither Rasmus Hojlund nor Joshua Zirkzee impressing their 39-year-old manager.
As such, Amorim is reported to only be open to Garnacho’s departure if a suitable replacement can be found before the end of the January window. This has led the club to impose a time-restriction on any deal for the 20-year-old winger.
The report reveals, “Manchester United are only prepared to listen to offers for Chelsea and Napoli target Alejandro Garnacho over the course of the next 48 hours as Old Trafford head coach Ruben Amorim is fearful that he will have no time to secure a replacement if an eleventh-hour deal is negotiated, GIVEMESPORT sources have revealed.
“Manchester United have decided they will only entertain sanctioning Garnacho’s exit if Chelsea or fellow suitors Napoli head to the negotiating table with a formal proposal in the next 48 hours, according to GMS sources, as Amorim is desperate to avoid a deadline day saga and stopping short of forcing him out.
“GMS sources have been informed that Manchester United do not want uncertainty over Garnacho’s future to drag beyond Friday as it would give Amorim limited opportunities to recruit a replacement, meaning Chelsea and Napoli are in a race against time if they want to acquire his services.”
Evidently, there is no desire to see Garnacho leave Old Trafford amongst United’s executive branch or coaching staff. But there is an acceptance that a player without an obvious home in the starting eleven, who could command a sizeable fee equating to ‘pure profit’, may prove a sale too good to turn down.
Any interested suitors will have to pay up or shut up by Friday night, however.
Featured image by Gareth Copley via Getty Images
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