Chelsea Closing in on £50m Move for Alejandro Garnacho

“Have you seen this one?” I asked a colleague earlier today. “Chelsea and Manchester United are edging closer to a deal for Alejandro Garnacho. It’s not quite wrapped up yet, but reports suggest there’s already a broad agreement in place—in the region of £50 million, including add-ons.”

The reply was immediate: “Fifty million for a player United don’t even want? That’s something.”

And that is the point. Garnacho, who had once been regarded as one of United’s most promising young players, has been excluded by manager Ruben Amorim. The 21-year-old winger did not participate in preseason tours in both ways, in the United States and Europe, and did not play in the first two rounds of the Premier League with United this season.

This is a major decline in the ranks of Old Trafford following 198 senior career matches and 49 goals to the name of a player with so much attained.

Why Garnacho Wants Chelsea

The most telling part of this story is Garnacho’s determination to join Chelsea over other suitors. Bayern Munich expressed serious interest, while lucrative offers came in from Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Napoli also monitored the situation earlier in the summer. Yet Garnacho has made it clear that he only wants a move to Stamford Bridge.

🚨🔵 Alejandro Garnacho and Chelsea, deal remains very advanced with all parties expected it to happen.

Garnacho has rejected new approach from Saudi Pro League in last 48h, he only wants Chelsea as destination. pic.twitter.com/mOq2HoqpZ6

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 26, 2025

That clarity of purpose matters in modern transfers. Far too often, players allow themselves to be swayed by money or agents’ interests, but Garnacho has communicated to friends and family that his decision is already made. He wants London, and he wants to work under Enzo Maresca. For Chelsea fans, that’s an encouraging sign. It shows a young player motivated not by salary, but by opportunity and fit.

It also fits Chelsea’s new recruitment model. Under Maresca, they are looking for technically gifted, attack-minded players who can adapt to fluid systems. Garnacho, despite his struggles at United, ticks those boxes. His pace, directness, and versatility could make him an ideal project for a manager who values tactical intelligence and flexibility.

United’s Hardline Stance

Manchester United, however, is not prepared to let him go cheaply. Their asking price remains firm at £50m. To put that into perspective, they point toward recent sales of similarly profiled players: Noni Madueke moved to Arsenal for £48m, and Anthony Elanga went to Newcastle for £52m. United argue Garnacho belongs in the same bracket, if not higher, given his international caps for Argentina.

From United’s perspective, this stance makes sense. Letting go of a 21-year-old winger with close to 200 appearances for a cut-price fee could be seen as poor business, regardless of his current status under Amorim. By setting the bar high, United protects their valuation of young talent while avoiding accusations of selling to a Premier League rival on the cheap.

Chelsea, meanwhile, began negotiations closer to £35m, hoping United’s urgency to trim their squad would bring flexibility. But Amorim’s decision to freeze Garnacho out has not softened United’s negotiating position. If anything, it has made them more determined to extract maximum value. The result is a transfer poker game—Chelsea know Garnacho wants them, and United know Chelsea need reinforcements out wide.

What Garnacho Brings to the Blues

Despite his exile from United’s squad, Garnacho brings plenty to the table. At just 21, he has amassed 198 career appearances across multiple competitions—Premier League, Europa League, Champions League, and domestic cups. His return of 49 goals and 32 assists shows productivity, even when he is not always a starter.

Alejandro Garnacho is reportedly CONVINCED that he will be a Chelsea player by the end of the transfer window 🤔✍️ pic.twitter.com/EoVu59w3XH

— LiveScore (@livescore) August 26, 2025

Technically, he is most dangerous as a left winger, where he can cut inside on his stronger right foot, but he has also been deployed on the right and in attacking midfield. That versatility will appeal to Chelsea, who often rotate their frontline and need depth across several positions.

At the international level, Garnacho has represented Argentina eight times since his debut in 2023. While he has yet to score for the national team, his inclusion shows the regard in which he is held by Lionel Scaloni and his coaching staff. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, the winger will be eager to cement a role in Argentina’s plans—another motivating factor behind securing regular football at the club level.

For Chelsea, this is a player with both experience and potential. Unlike a raw academy graduate, Garnacho has already faced the pressures of top-level football at Old Trafford. But unlike an established veteran, his ceiling remains high. If Maresca can unlock his talent, the £50m fee may soon look like smart business.

A Gamble or a Bargain?

And so we come to the bigger question: is this a gamble or a bargain in disguise?

On the one hand, Garnacho has been frozen out by Amorim and clearly deemed surplus at United. Paying £50m for a player who cannot get into their squad carries obvious risks. Chelsea supporters have seen similar moves backfire before, with talented but inconsistent signings struggling to adapt under the spotlight.

On the other hand, Garnacho has attributes that money cannot easily buy—pace, flair, and a hunger to prove people wrong. Players at 21 who have close to 200 senior games under their belt are rare. If he arrives at Stamford Bridge with the right mentality, he could transform Chelsea’s attacking options and finally live up to the hype that once surrounded him at United.

As my colleague summed it up when we finished debating the move, “Fifty million for a kid who can’t get into United’s squad? Football never changes.”

Perhaps not. But football also has a habit of giving players second chances. If Garnacho takes his at Chelsea, this transfer could be remembered as one of the most intriguing moves of the 2025 window.