Man United 'open talks' with Chelsea over transfer amid Benjamin Sesko wait

Man United 'open talks' with Chelsea over transfer amid Benjamin Sesko wait

Latest Manchester United transfer news with an update on Alejandro Garnacho amid links with a move to Chelsea

Manchester United forward Alejandro Garnacho is a transfer target for Chelsea (Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Chelsea have opened talks with Manchester United regarding a potential summer deal for Alejandro Garnacho, it has been claimed. The 21-year-old has informed the Reds of his desire to explore different opportunities this summer, after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford.

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Garnacho was the subject of a £60 million offer from Napoli in January, but United decided to keep hold of him and instead allowed Marcus Rashford and Antony to join Jadon Sancho out on loan.

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While the Argentina international impressed in patches he was left out of the starting XI for the Europa League final against Tottenham in May, prompting a furious response from the forward.

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Since then, Garnacho has expressed his desire to move on and quit the Reds before the end of the transfer window. Despite his omission from the club's pre-season tour of the United States, nothing has materialised.

However, that could be about to change now after talkSPORT reported that Chelsea have entered negotiations with United about bringing Garnacho to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Chelsea boast a long-term interest in the ex-Atletico Madrid youth product and remain interested in securing his services, even if they have signed Jamie Gittens and are closing in on buying Xavi Simons.

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Enzo Maresca is keen to have strength in depth in his Chelsea squad ahead of their return to the Champions League for the first time in three years. The Blues have spent in excess of £240m this summer.

Garnacho may not have been training with the rest of his United teammates in pre-season, but he has been working hard going into his next move. Last month, in a video posted on Instagram by Javier Ledesma - a Spanish football and fitness coach - Garnacho was spotted being put through his paces in the gym.

He was pictured performing high intense lunges with a dumbbell in each hand. Garnacho looked fit, sharp and prepared to take on his new challenge if a move from United goes through in the coming weeks. The Argentine scored 11 goals and added 10 assists 58 appearances for the Reds last season.

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Speaking about his future and frustration, following a lack of game time in the Europa League final, Garnacho said in a statement: "Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don't know.

"The final will influence [my decision] but the whole season, the situation of the club. I'm going to try to enjoy the summer and then see what happens afterwards."

United themselves have spent around £125m on three new players in Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon and Bryan Mbeumo, but the Reds are pushing to bring a fourth through the doors. Benjamin Sesko has made it clear that he wants to join Amorim's side, who are in talks with Leipzig over a deal.

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Getting Garnacho out would help enable United to pay Leipzig's asking price for the Slovenia international. It would also boost the club's financial position, with Brighton's Carlos Baleba another target.

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