Manchester United rejected the chance to sign Christopher Nkunku in exchange for Alejandro Garnacho last month, according to Manchester Evening News.
The Red Devils remain active in their attempts to offload the Argentine international before the window closes on September 1 – ideally before the 2025/2026 campaign gets underway, too, which, in United’s case, is August 17 at home to Arsenal.
Garnacho is not expected to be involved in any form when the squad embarks on their pre-season tour of the United States next week, nor are his wing counterparts Antony, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.
United uninterested in Nkunku/Garnacho swap
Samuel Luckhurst confirmed this morning that the Reds rebuffed Chelsea’s swap proposal involving Nkunku, despite being linked with the French international last summer and during the winter transfer window.
He, like Garnacho, is widely expected to be on the move in the coming weeks, with Bayern Munich among his suitors. Such a switch would allow Nkunku – whom Thierry Henry admitted he ‘loves’ watching play – to return to the Bundesliga, where he oversaw his most prolific goalscoring form at RB Leipzig prior to his £52 million Stamford Bridge transfer.
Why INEOS must stand firm in Garnacho demands
While INEOS are desperate to get their outcast players off the books as swiftly as possible, you can’t blame them for being uninterested in the proposition.
Garnacho boasts 144 senior appearances at just 21 years old and he has earned eight caps for reigning world champions Argentina, making him one of the side’s most valuable assets of recent years.
He is also considered a homegrown talent due to the fact that he joined from Atletico Madrid’s youth ranks for a fee of £420,000 back in 2020, so his sale would generate straight profit for United and provide a welcome PSR boost.
On the other hand, Nkunku, 27, endured an injury-ridden maiden term with Chelsea in 2023/2024, after which he struggled to cement a starting spot and grew accustomed to playing second fiddle to Nicolas Jackson.
We don’t need another injury prone player like Mason Mount from Chelsea
We swap him for Palma
If Garnacho only wants to play in the Premier League for the 2025 /26 season, looks like United will be paying him to sit at home. He will also not be playing for Argentina during the 2026 World Cup, if he is not playing regularly.
Very silly young boy
Garnacho and his brother are clowns. Its clear he is not a finished product yet he told himself he is the real deal. And how about the lack of proffesionalism from both siblings? Dissapointing