Chelsea are nearing an agreement with Manchester United for Argentina forward Alejandro Garnacho in a deal worth approximately $54 million, according to ESPN sources. The 21-year-old has been told he can leave Old Trafford this summer.
Garnacho has not featured in Ruben Amorim\'s plans and was omitted from United\'s preseason tour to the United States. He trained with other unwanted players including Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Antony during the summer preparations.
The winger rejected a move to Bayern Munich earlier this month, making it clear he preferred a transfer to Chelsea. United initially valued Garnacho at $67 million while Chelsea offered only $40 million, creating a significant gap in negotiations.
Chelsea\'s interest had stalled recently due to UEFA sanctions requiring the club to balance their books through player sales. The Conference League winners needed to offload key players including Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson to comply with financial regulations.
Negotiations have resumed between the clubs over a fee ranging from $47 million to $54 million. Sources indicate that while no agreement has been reached, talks are progressing positively ahead of next Monday\'s transfer deadline.
Garnacho expressed interest in joining Chelsea during the January transfer window, but no deal materialized at that time. The Argentine international has been training separately from Amorim\'s first-team squad alongside other players deemed surplus to requirements.
United have successfully moved Marcus Rashford to Barcelona on a season-long loan but have struggled to find buyers for their other unwanted assets. The club needs to generate funds through player sales to fund new acquisitions before the deadline.
The potential transfer represents a significant addition for Enzo Maresca\'s Chelsea squad as they look to strengthen their attacking options for the remainder of the season.
Via Mark Ogden/ESPN