As always with Chelsea, the January transfer window is an incredibly busy period of activity for the club, and whilst moves have been minimal so far, with Chelsea mainly looking to get a few players out of the door, one rumour has persisted all month – that of Chelsea making a surprise move for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho.
The 20-year-old has fallen out of favour at the Red Devils since Ruben Amorim’s arrival, and reports are suggesting that the Argentinian is considering his options as a result, with Napoli also heavily rumoured to be in for the winger. However, given Chelsea’s apparent embarrassment of riches in the wide areas, why are they interested in Garnacho, and what could a move mean for other members of the squad?
An Eye for the Extraordinary
Whilst Garnacho has endured a mixed season in the Premier League so far, only contributing three goals and one assists, the same can be said of the whole Man United squad – currently labouring in 13th in the table. Garnacho’s struggles are in line with the rest of his teammates as they look to adjust to Amorin’s new system.
That being said, Garnacho has displayed outstanding moments on occasion in his short career so far. His unbelievable overhead kick against Everton, which went onto win the prestigious Puskás Award, showcased his talent, whilst there have been numerous other occasions (including several goals at Stamford Bridge) which demonstrated his clear ability at the top level.
Alongside the natural talent Garncho possesses, his age profile also fits in seamlessly with the Chelsea project. At just 20 years old, Garnacho has already amassed over 70 appearances in the topflight, alongside experience in Europe and on the international stage. With time on his side to develop and grow his already excellent experience, Chelsea could have a real gem on their hands.
Finally, if Enzo Maresca can replicate his rejuvenation of Jadon Sancho with the Argentinian, the winger may reach new levels in the next few years. Sancho’s form and consistency has vastly improved whilst at Stamford Bridge, clearly enjoying a solid platform, backing and consistency. In a similar environment, the sky could be the limit for Garnacho as well.
Where Does He Fit Into the Squad?
With a reported fee of close to £55million being required for the winger’s services, it does raise the question of where Garnacho would fit into Chelsea’s squad, and what it means for all the other wingers currently on the books.
With Mykhailo Mudryk facing an indefinite suspension due to doping allegations, it has made Chelsea somewhat short in the wide areas, especially when the UEFA Conference League returns, where Maresca will look to balance the workload of his squad with heavy rotation. Garnacho would easily fill the void left by the Ukrainian, and many Chelsea fans are likely to consider him an upgrade.
However, Chelsea do have summer signing Pedro Neto, Noni Madueke and the previously mentioned Sancho as wide options already, whilst Cole Palmer, Christopher Nkunku and João Félix are also more than capable of holding a wide position. Maresca is not exactly short of options and does run the risk of further bloating his squad with the addition of the Argentinian.
It would also be disruptive to the youth prospects begging for opportunities to showcase their talent. One recent example is Tyrique George, who made his Premier League debut in the recent 3-1 win over Wolves. An expensive signing would only further push him and several others down the pecking order, further enhancing the divide between the youth set up and the first team.
If a move for Garnacho does come to fruition, Chelsea will undoubtedly be adding a serious talent to their books and one that fits in very well with their overall project. However, such a move could disrupt both the first team and youth squads, adding a potentially unnecessary player to a position the Blues have excellent resources in already. Maresca will have to play his cards extremely well to balance the situation, should a move materialise.
