Roma Chase Garnacho Despite Two Rejected Bids For Chelsea Outcast: Reports
Chelsea have rejected two bids for Alejandro Garnacho from Roma. However, the Serie A side are not giving up on their interest in the winger. The Serie A side remain keen on arranging a deal for the 22-year-old, who has been told in no uncertain terms he has no future at Stamford Bridge.
Garnacho only joined the west London club last summer from Manchester United in a deal worth around £40 million. His first season was a major disappointment, scoring only eight goals and contributing four assists in 43 competitive matches, 22 of which were starts. He also did not turn up for pre-season training when the non-World Cup players returned, with new manager Xabi Alonso making it clear the winger was not in his plans.
The sticking point in negotiations has been the structure, not a lack of appetite from either side. Roma’s most recent offer was reportedly a €5m loan fee and a €35m purchase option, coming to around €40m. Chelsea’s ownership group, BlueCo, turned down that package because they want a guaranteed, permanent sale of around €50m with no creative structuring.
The Giallorossi are still working hard to close the big gap between the two clubs despite the deadlock. Garnacho himself is understood to prefer a move to the Italian capital, where he would be reunited with close friend Paulo Dybala. Gian Piero Gasperini has a strong reputation for rescuing broken talents, and this is a calculated gamble that Roma should take.
Chelsea prepared for more bids as wing overhaul continues
The Garnacho soap opera rumbles on, but Chelsea are busy overhauling their attacking options in the summer window. The Blues have already signed Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP, a versatile operator who can play as a winger or wing-back on the right.
Chelsea have plenty of options in wide areas and were underwhelmed by the wingers they brought in last summer, which is part of the reason they are open to moving on Garnacho. The Stamford Bridge hierarchy are keen to get their full outlay back, especially as his sale would be profitable under the Premier League’s financial rules. Meanwhile, Manchester United could also benefit from a 10% sell-on clause inserted into last summer’s deal.
Alonso expects to change his forward line with more experienced names rather than raw prospects in the future. Chelsea are understood to be expecting further bids from Garnacho, with the market said to be ready to produce either an enhanced Roma bid or competition elsewhere.
