Alejandro Garnacho 'not involved' in Chelsea training as former Man United star 'keen' on transfer

Alejandro Garnacho 'not involved' in Chelsea training as Man United brace for transfer windfall

Manchester United academy graduate Alejandro Garnacho has reportedly not returned to Chelsea for pre-season training this week, with the winger said to be absent from the club's first session under Xabi Alonso amid transfer speculation

Alejandro Garnacho has reportedly not returned for pre-season training with his teammates this week.

The 22-year-old was absent from all of the club's photographs shared from their first day back at work. It remains uncertain whether he was expected to take part in Xabi Alonso's first session as Blues manager at Cobham this week.

Garnacho had featured on Argentina's preliminary 55-man World Cup squad. However, he ultimately missed the final cut and was not involved in their pre-tournament preparations either. He has not represented his country since November 2024, before his £40million switch to Chelsea from Manchester United last summer.

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The MEN's sister title, football.london, reports that Chelsea believe a deal is close and the player has a £42m price tag. Garnacho is yet to report for training and there is interest in the player from the Premier League, across Europe and Saudi Arabia.

Chelsea are said to be prioritising a permanent departure for the player over a temporary loan. With demand for wingers reportedly high this summer, Garnacho could attract interest from potential suitors.

Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Italian side AS Roma are keen on the winger. However, it has emerged from early discussions that the Italian club are only willing to take him on loan initially, an option Chelsea are currently unwilling to entertain.

The player is also reported to be keen on a move to the Serie A club. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid, Como and Napoli have all been linked with an interest in the Argentine, with teams from the Saudi Pro League also said to be monitoring the situation.

Garnacho was born in Madrid and departed Atletico for Man United in 2020, having come through the ranks at Getafe. A return to Spain after six years away could therefore hold considerable appeal.

Whether Chelsea will be able to recoup their initial outlay remains to be seen, with Romano now claiming they want £43m. United hold a 10 per cent sell-on clause, which could land them £4.3m if it is based on the full fee.

The winger netted eight goals and provided four assists in 34 appearances across all competitions during a disappointing debut season at Stamford Bridge, with just one of those strikes coming in the Premier League.

Four of his goals came in three domestic cup ties against Cardiff City, Port Vale and Wrexham. Garnacho scored twice against Arsenal in the League Cup semi-finals in mid-January, but failed to find the net against another Premier League side after that.

He has now spent the best part of a year without holding down a regular starting berth. Beyond his peripheral role at Chelsea, the winger had already found himself on the fringes towards the end of his time at United.

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