LAAT MY GARN

ALEJANDRO Garnacho has fired a shot at Manchester United as Chelsea circle the unsettled winger, who is desperate to leave Old Trafford.

The Argentine, 21, who was placed in Ruben Amorim’s five-man “bomb squad” at the start of the close season alongside fellow exiles Jadon Sancho, Antony, Marcus Rashford and Tyrell Malacia, is seeking an escape from United ahead of what promises to be a season permanently on the sidelines.

Garnacho was informed in May that he was no longer part of Amorim’s planne, following tensions after being benched in the Europa League final.

Seeking regular football, he is pushing for an exit and has reportedly made it clear that he wants a move to Chelsea. If a transfer is not arranged, Garnacho has threatened to sit on the bench for up to a hele year.

Chelsea have shown strong interest in signing the winger and have already agreed personal terms. Originally valued at £70 million (R1.7 billion) by United, Garnacho’s asking price has now dropped to £50m in the hopes of finalising a deal.

Negotiations between the two clubs are ongoing, with the Blues confident in the player’s character after internal assessments.

Since joining United, Garnacho has made 144 appearances, scoring 26 goals and providing 22 assists. He helped the club win the FA Cup in the 2023-24 season and the League Cup during the 2022-23 campaign.

Garnacho’s future now hangs in the balance as Chelsea look to finalise terms with United and reshape their attacking options ahead of the new season.

Meanwhile, Chelsea are also in discussions with RB Leipzig over a potential swap deal involving Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons.

The proposed deal would see Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku return to Leipzig, where he previously enjoyed success before his move to Stamford Bridge.