Alejandro Garnacho is finally closing in on signing for Chelsea. The London club are reportedly confident about getting the deal over the line before the window closes.
Chelsea wants both Garnacho and Xavi
Chelsea has signed attackers such as Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens this summer. Their signings are a part of an ongoing attacking overhaul by the Blues. Now, they shift focus towards youngsters Alejandro Garnacho and Xavi Simons to reinforce the side’s attack further. In Garnacho’s case, first contacts were made in January of this year. However, the deal did not go through back then.
Of the two targets, the Argentine winger’s deal is closer to completion, although Xavi Simon’s deal is advancing well, too. Man United’s original asking price for the out-of-favour winger was said to be £60 million. Later, they reduced the asking price to £50 million, setting the transfer fee of Noni Madueke as a benchmark figure.
New reports suggest that United would like Chelsea’s midfielder Andrey Santos included in the deal. Journalist Ben Jacobs claims that United have asked about the 21-year-old Brazilian during the discussions regarding Garnacho. The journalist further adds that this might not lead anywhere, though, because Chelsea doesn’t want to let go of the midfield gem.
Garnacho only wants Chelsea
Garnacho, after a poor season at United, doesn’t seem likely to play for the club ever again. Once the Red Devils’ crown jewel, the 21-year-old has been in the midst of a whirlwind of issues. The Europa League final against Spurs, where Garnacho played just 20 minutes, was the final straw for him. He hinted at a possible departure immediately after the match, during the post-match interviews.
The following months have seen multiple clubs showing interest in the player and backing off. However, Garnacho has his eyes set on Chelsea. The player and the London club have already agreed on personal terms. Garnacho is now waiting patiently for Chelsea to make their move, officially.
Garnacho’s interest in Chelsea’s project has seen him reject interest from a massive club recently. German giants Bayern Munich, who are searching for a winger to replace the departing Kingsley Coman, reportedly enquired about the Argentine. However, Garnacho swiftly rejected the club. This comes as a shock, considering the stature of Bayern as a European giant, and how this would’ve been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for someone in such a difficult situation.
The move will go through, but Chelsea must sell
Most reliable reports suggest that all the parties involved in this move are confident about getting this deal over the line before the window ends. However, Chelsea cannot complete the signing before making sales. The Club has already spent upwards of £200 million so far. As a result, they are required by UEFA Financial Regulations to generate revenue through player sales before being able to sign additional players.
The Blues must first finalise deals for Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson to be able to register both Garnacho and Xavi Simons. The concern, though, is that this has been the case for a while now, and the Chelsea players are still not any closer to a move. Nkunku has garnered interest from top clubs such as Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and RB Leipzig so far. In Nicolas Jackson’s case, there has been interest from Bayern and Newcastle united.
Surprisingly, Aston Villa has made calls regarding both players recently, as per the reliable Fabrizio Romano. However, no deal has been reached for either player so far.
What can be expected from the remaining days
The transfer window will remain open until the end of August, i.e., 7 more days. Garnacho and Xavi Simons’ moves depend on Chelsea selling Nkunku and Jackson within these 7 days. Their struggle to sell the players so far is not an indication of an inability to sell them. Nkunku and Jackson are quality players who will surely find new clubs within the coming days, hence allowing Chelsea to finally seal the deal for Garnacho and Simons.
As featured on ManUNews.comAs featured on Chelseanews.com
