Chelsea are still targeting Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho this summer despite their plan to sign Xavi Simons, according to reports.
The Blues are edging closer to a deal for Simons following the latest round of ‘positive’ discussions, which have ‘accelerated’ over the last few days.
It had been suggested that Simons’ possible arrival from RB Leipzig could see Chelsea cool their transfer interest in Garnacho.
But Chelsea will not shut the door on a move for United star Garnacho if and when the Simons deal is completed, The Telegraph have reported.
The Blues have long been linked to the Argentine and United are open to offloading the 21-year-old, who is thought to have a £40m price tag.
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Football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports Chelsea will make a move for Garnacho ‘later in the window’ once the Simons deal is done.
Scholes reveals huge ‘fear’ over Garnacho exit
Legendary former United midfielder Paul Scholes is worried Garnacho will ‘end up scoring 25 to 30 goals’ in the 2025-26 season if he joins Chelsea.
‘He’s perfect in a regular 4-3-3,’ Scholes told TNT Sports in May. ‘He will be a real threat.
‘He needs to tidy up his decision-making and finishing, sometimes his final ball is a bit rash but he’s a young player so that’s to be expected.
‘I fear we will see him for PSR (Profitability and Sustainability Rules) reasons. It’s been rumoured, hasn’t it? I fear he will end up scoring 25 to 30 goals for somebody else, that’s how good I think this lad can be.
‘Shoehorning him into this system might be tricky, I’m struggling to find a position for him in Ruben Amorim’s system.
‘I don’t want them to sell him, I hate the thought of that, but I think they could do. I wouldn’t like it. He frustrates me but he’s often the biggest threat for Manchester United.’
Parker: Garnacho needs to move on
Meanwhile, former United defender Paul Parker says it is time for Garnacho to ‘move on’ from Old Trafford and find a new club.
‘Sell the boy,’ Parker said when asked Garnacho’s future, speaking via BritishGambler.co.uk.
‘He needs to move on… His end product is terrible, absolutely terrible. Living off shinning an overhead kick into the top corner against Everton.
‘I wonder what kind of player he is. Not full of tricks, not that quick. I’m trying to figure out what his game is, I really don’t know what his strengths are.’