£40m star wanted by Napoli now
Chelsea transfer news: Chelsea cut losses on Alejandro Garnacho as Xabi Alonso clears out the deadwood
Chelsea transfer news: One year. That is all Alejandro Garnacho got at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea want him out. No loans, no temporary fixes, no subsidising his £110,000-a-week wages until his absurdly long contract expires in 2032. The hierarchy needs cold, hard cash to balance the books and give new boss Xabi Alonso the freedom to reshape a bloated squad. They want their £40 million back. Every single penny of it.
It has been a disaster of a move. Bought from Manchester United last summer with massive expectations, the 22-year-old winger completely failed to spark. Eight goals in 43 games across all competitions tells part of the story. The Premier League numbers tell the real horror show: one goal in 24 matches.
Frustration boiled over. Sources say a dressing room bust-up kicked off after a particularly dismal defeat away at Old Trafford, with teammates furious at his lack of defensive work and selfish play. Alonso, a manager who demands rigid tactical discipline over flashy individual skill, has already seen enough. The club have left Garnacho off their ‘untouchable’ list, especially with teenage winger Geovany Quenda arriving at Cobham to take his spot.
Antonio Conte eyes Italian rescue mission
Italy offers an escape route. Antonio Conte is keen to bring the Argentina international to Napoli, believing he can fix the winger just like he revitalised the careers of Scott McTominay and Romelu Lukaku. Roma are also sniffing around.
Meeting the price tag is the main hurdle for the Italian sides. Chelsea refuse to budge on the £40 million valuation, mostly because Manchester United cleverly inserted a 10 per cent sell-on clause into the original deal. Old Trafford officials are watching closely, rubbing their hands at the prospect of a late financial bonus. If Europe cannot find the money, Saudi Arabia is the fallback option.
Garnacho simply does not fit into the new era at Stamford Bridge. Selling him now is the only logical move left for a club desperate to move on from past mistakes.
Rohit Sarkar
