The Blues are preparing to formalise their interest in the winger, despite having concerns over his obvious attitude problem
When it recently emerged that Manchester United are prepared to cash in on Alejandro Garnacho in the near future, there was something of an inevitability about Chelsea's name being in the frame. Lo and behold, two weeks later, the Blues are set to formalise their interest in the winger with an opening offer – and as it stands they are the only club in the running.
Both United's openness to selling one of the gems of their academy and Chelsea's willingness to spend big on yet another winger have raised eyebrows, as the Red Devils target a pure-profit sale for more than £50 million ($62m) to ease their financial troubles.
In the current state of affairs, there is the unshakeable feeling that this is a deal that undoubtedly favours INEOS, Ruben Amorim and Co., with the west Londoners rolling the dice by potentially taking the fiery Argentine off their hands.
Getty/GOALMan Utd's PSR problem
Man Utd's financial situation means their hands could be tied when it comes to selling off their academy gems; it was reported earlier in January that the Red Devils would consider offers for Garnacho and fellow Carrington graduate Kobbie Mainoo as they risk breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
United part-owners INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who have already made a number of brutal cuts, have even written to fans insisting the club must "act now" to avoid a violation.
"If we do not act now, we are in danger of falling to comply with PSR/FFP requirements," a letter read. "We are currently making a significant loss each year – totalling over £300m in the past three years. This is not sustainable.
"We will have to make some difficult choices. That has included a significant reduction to our workforce as well as cuts across many areas of spend across our club."
A matter of months ago, the idea of selling Garnacho would have been unthinkable, but the timing of the 2025 January transfer window probably plays into United's hands as they look to avoid a significant backlash.
The 20-year-old is out of form and out of favour under Ruben Amorim, with the fanbase largely backing the manager's decision to overlook him in recent weeks and growing increasingly frustrated at his inconsistent performances and a perceived poor attitude – with some even prepared to see him leave.
AdvertisementGettyChelsea's sudden need
Garnacho's potential availability has unsurprisingly piqued Chelsea's interest – a club seemingly hell-bent on hoarding the planet's best young talent as they attempt to build a future-proof squad.
There is seen to be a need for a new left-winger, too; Mykhailo Mudryk is currently suspended and is almost certainly facing a lengthy doping ban as he awaits a 'B' sample having failed a drugs test in November.
Although he denies any knowledge of consuming a banned substance, the problem for Mudryk is that the FA's anti-doping rules state that intent does not affect culpability, and claiming to have taken something unknowingly is not a defence that will stand up in court. Barring a negative 'B' sample, the Ukrainian faces a four-year ban in the worst-case scenario.
Chelsea still have an array of attacking options on paper, but if you look solely at out-and-out wingers they are only technically left with Jadon Sancho, Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke, with the latter two preferring to operate on the right flank. Meanwhile, youngster Tyrique George has only just broken into the first team and is probably not deemed experienced enough.
Getty Images Sport'We can score more goals'
Although their contributions have been passable, they are certainly not the most productive set of wide players around; between them, Sancho, Neto and Madueke have provided a combined 18 goals and assists in the Premier League – two fewer than Cole Palmer has chipped in with on his own.
That shortfall is clearly something head coach Enzo Maresca has noted, and he has demanded more of his wingers. "We have the third-best attack in the Premier League, so we score many goals, but the way the team is playing we can score more goals," he said recently.
"It is not about just Nico [Jackson]. Probably in terms of wingers we can score more goals for the amount of times that we arrive and put our wingers in positions one-v-one in the box, like Pedro [Neto] and Jadon [Sancho]. Hopefully they can start soon to score goals.
"The important thing is that they arrive there in every game. If we are clinical for sure it is better for the team, so if we can have our attacking players, our wingers, being more clinical it will be good."
Getty Images SportNot the answer
If Chelsea have reached the conclusion that Garnacho is the ideal solution to their problems, then they are badly mistaken. Consistently inconsistent, the young Argentine has become something of a lightning rod for criticism at Old Trafford of late, embodying the kind of unfulfilled potential-turned-mediocrity that the club is desperate to break free from.
"Garnacho still has the capacity to make a decisive impact, but it's rare," GOAL's James Westwood wrote recently. "Most of the time he picks the wrong options in the final third, displaying very little composure with his shooting or passing. He also tends to play with his head down, and runs into trouble constantly. He's infuriating to watch, and doesn't seem to understand what it means to be a team player."
A winger who idolises Cristiano Ronaldo, the United academy graduate has fallen a long way short of his hero's high standards this season, scoring just three times and laying on one more in the league. His last goal came in early November and that sole assist was on the opening day of the season against Fulham. Known as a tricky winger, he has completed just 12 dribbles in the Premier League so far this season, with a lowly success percentage of just 34.3.
This is all caveated by the fact that, at 20 years old, Garnacho has time on his side and can still fulfil what was once considered world-class potential, but that he has plateaued at such a young age should ring alarm bells at Stamford Bridge.