Alejandro Garnacho may be on the verge of leaving Old Trafford this month, with Napoli reportedly nearing an agreement to sign the Manchester United winger.
In United’s recent 3-1 home defeat to Brighton, Garnacho started on the bench yet again, coming on for Kobbie Mainoo in the 64th minute as he continues to face reduced playing time under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United is seeking a fee of around £50 million for the Argentine, and Napoli is gaining confidence in their pursuit of what could be a major signing. The Italian club is optimistic about finalizing personal terms with Garnacho.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Garnacho recently had a phone conversation with Napoli manager Antonio Conte, with a £42 million bid already on the table from the Serie A side. Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, is set to meet with United on Monday to discuss improving their offer and edging closer to the Red Devils’ asking price.
Manna stated after Napoli’s 3-2 victory over Atalanta: “We are making evaluations; we must not get caught up in the frenzy. There is expectation, and we will be ready, but on Napoli’s terms.”
With Napoli recently selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain for £50 million, they are considering using that entire amount to secure Garnacho’s services.
Chelsea has also shown interest in the 20-year-old, but they need to offload players before adding new signings to Enzo Maresca’s squad. This situation leaves Napoli in a strong position to land Garnacho as they move closer to an agreement with him and plan further discussions with United, potentially allowing the club to make a significant profit and enhance their Financial Fair Play standings.
When asked about Garnacho’s future at Old Trafford last week, Amorim remarked: “That is clear. He has talent. He’s finding the best way to play in this system and is improving in training. He started the last game. Let’s see how he performs tomorrow [against Southampton]. I think he has changed the way he views himself.
“He needs to learn to adapt to a different position and play better in tight spaces. He’s improving a lot defensively when we don’t have the ball, but sometimes that affects his positioning for transitions like he used to. I prefer to defend first and then build up as a team to reach the final third.”
Meanwhile, United is also in discussions with Italian club Lecce regarding their left-back Patrick Dorgu, as they aim to address a key position under Amorim.