Manchester United have rejected a £40million offer from Italian side Napoli for Alejandro Garnacho.
The Italian side have made the Argentina international their No.1 target this month to replace star man Khvicha Kvaratskelia. The Georgian star is heading to Paris Saint-Germain in a £70million transfer, which will be completed on Friday.
And while it is understood that Garnacho is keen to leave Old Trafford, and is keen on a move to Naples, United chiefs are ready to play hardball for the 20-year-old.
United have told the Serie A side it will take £60million to land Garnacho this month – and want their valuation met.
Garnacho has starred for United since breaking into the first team, becoming a key player under former boss Erik ten Hag and winning the 2024 Puskas Award for world football’s best goal, with his outstanding acrobatic effort at Everton last season.
But he has struggled to make an impact under new boss Ruben Amorim, making only his first start in eight games in the FA Cup win over Arsenal at the weekend.
And Amorim this week challenged him to work on his game if he wants to be a regular in his new-look United side.
“He has talent and he needs to learn to play in a different position,” said the United boss, speaking before Thursday’s Premier League game against Southampton. “He needs to play better inside. He improves a lot in the recovering position when he doesn’t have the ball. But by doing that, sometimes he’s not in the right place to make transitions like he was in the past.
“I prefer to defend and then build up with all the team to reach the final third. He’s finding the best way to play in this system. He’s improving during training and he started the last game against Arsenal. Let’s see against Southampton and I think he’s changed the way he sees himself.”
United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is looking to raise funds by parting ways with some of the club’s under-performing stars.
And while Amorim is reluctant to see some of the club’s brightest young talent depart, club bosses have taken the stance that EVERYBODY has a price, including homegrown star Kobbie Mainoo and even summer signing Leny Yoro.
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