Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea transfer twist as Enzo Maresca fires Man United clear message

Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea transfer twist as Enzo Maresca fires Man United clear message

All the latest Manchester United transfer news as Ruben Amorim looks to bolster his squad before the new Premier League season gets underway

Alejandro Garnacho faces an uncertain future at Manchester United beyond this summer (Image: PA)

Manchester United appear to have been dealt a blow to their hopes of offloading Alejandro Garnacho. The 21-year-old winger has been heavily linked with a move to Chelsea this summer as Enzo Maresca looks to bolster his attacking options.

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Shortly after the Reds' defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final, Ruben Amorim told Garnacho, who was benched in Bilbao despite having started each of the previous knockout round ties, he could leave. The Manchester Evening News understands that the Argentina international was one of five players who asked United to leave this summer..

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Garnacho was excluded from the pre-season tour of the United States, and, since the first-team's return to Carrington, he trained separately from the core squad. With Maresca eager to strengthen their frontline, the Argentine has emerged as a target for the Blues.

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It's understood that Chelsea are interested in signing Garnacho, who has three years left on his contract at Old Trafford. However, the west Londoners' hunt for a new forward appears to have been put on hold until they sign a replacement for Levi Colwill.

The Blues defender recently underwent surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament, and he could be out for the season. Speaking on Channel 5 following Chelsea's 2-0 pre-season friendly win over Bayer Leverkusen on Friday night, Maresca said: "We will miss him.

"It's a priority [strengthening in defence] because Levi is a fantastic player. What we achieved last season is because of him. He played all the games with me, I love him, we're going to miss him."

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Maresca's comments appear to hint Chelsea could now prioritise a new centre-back over Garnacho in a new development for the ongoing transfer saga.

Earlier this month, Amorim provided an update on Garnacho. The United boss described the Blues target as a 'talented boy', who wants 'a different thing with a different leadership'.

Alejandro Garnacho and Bruno Fernandes during Manchester United's clash against Fulham in the FA Cup (Image: Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)

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"I think Garnacho, you can understand and you can see, he's talented, he's a really talented boy," said Amorim. "And sometimes things don't work out. You cannot explain specifically what it is.

"But I have the feeling, I think it's clear that Garnacho wants a different thing with a different leadership. And I can understand that. So I think it's not a problem.

"Sometimes you adapt to one guy, you have the connection. Other times, you want a new challenge. So, we try to make everything okay to all the parts. To the club, to the coach and to the players. So, it's a natural thing in football."

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