Man Utd can complete dream Ruben Amorim transfer in audacious Alejandro Garnacho swap deal

Manchester United are still looking to bolster their squad before the summer transfer window slams shut, but they also need to offload some deadwood, including Alejandro Garnacho

Manchester United have plenty more still to do before the summer transfer window shuts in September. The Red Devils’ main challenge this summer appears to be offloading players, with no departures from their squad as of yet.

Marcus Rashford, Antony, Tyrell Malacia, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho are all deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford, but none are nearing an exit at present.

Garnacho has been one of the United players training alone in pre-season after being told to find another club by head coach Ruben Amorim, having fallen out with the Portuguese multiple times over the past nine months.

The 21-year-old Argentine posted a picture on social media of himself training alone in the gym recently, as well as another image last month of him wearing a Villa jersey with the name of fellow United exile Rashford on the back, which is unlikely to have done him any favours.

Having been linked with Chelsea and Napoli already, Aston Villa are reportedly the latest club showing interest in United’s Garnacho. The Red Devils previously slapped a £70million price tag on Garnacho, but securing that sum may prove difficult given the public fallout surrounding the winger’s situation at United.

Such a hefty fee is also a big ask for a player who has yet to fully realise his potential. His tally of 11 goals across all competitions last season hardly warrants a £70m valuation, although any fee would provide pure profit for the club under profit and sustainability rules.

Now, the Manchester Evening News has provided a potential solution by suggesting a swap deal, which would see United target Ollie Watkins go the opposite way.

The Reds are in dire need of a striker and Watkins’ Premier League experience, a key factor for Ineos, makes him a great fit.

Many United fans might scoff at the idea of signing 29-year-old Watkins, particularly with Arsenal closing in on Viktor Gyokeres and Liverpool potentially bringing in Hugo Ekitike.

However, the Reds have no European football and are set for another transition season. He may not take United to their ultimate aim of a league title or Champions League win, but he’s an ideal short-term solution given their current situation.

If they can simultaneously offload one of their unneeded stars, United might seriously consider this deal.

The real question is whether Watkins himself is keen on the move, but the interest shown by other top talents this summer in Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo suggests that the Reds still have some allure. And Watkins could very well be the next to join their ranks.

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