Manchester United rejected an opening bid for Alejandro Garnacho, but Napoli’s sale of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and the impact on Liverpool and Tottenham’s transfer hopes has cleared the way
Alejandro Garnacho’s Manchester United departure has been given the green light by Liverpool and Tottenham’s failure to land their respective transfer targets.
United rejected a bid worth just under £40million for Garnacho this week, with the Red Devils demanding a fee closer to their £60m valuation of the player. The 20-year-old winger’s Old Trafford future has come under doubt since he was dropped by Ruben Amorim for the 2-1 win over Manchester City in December.
Talks over a new contract with Garnacho have also been unproductive, while United would be open to selling the Argentine due to a potential sale helping them stay on the right side of PSR rules. He himself is reportedly receptive to a move to the Serie A league leaders too.
He has Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to thank if Napoli end up tabling a huge bid. Given that the Georgian winger forced through a move to Paris Saint-Germain this January, Napoli will have the funds required to sign a much-needed replacement. Kvaratskhelia’s PSG transfer, worth around £59m, is now nearing completion after he confirmed his Napoli exit on social media on Thursday.
It was reported earlier this month that Liverpool were long-term admirers of Kvaratskhelia and were considering a move for the 23-year-old. But PSG are believed to have struck an agreement with Napoli, paying Kvaratskhelia’s fee over three installments as he arrived in Paris on Thursday, completing his medical the following morning.
That, in turn, has concluded the transfer saga surrounding out-of-favour PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani. With Kvaratskhelia’s arrival, PSG agreed to send Kolo Muani, who they signed for £77m in 2023, to Juventus on a six-month loan deal as he was deemed surplus to requirements.
Juventus will now cover the Frenchman’s wages until the end of this season, which comes as a blow to several other clubs including Spurs, who reportedly wanted to sign Kolo Muani this January. However, Juve do not have an option to buy him permanently, which means PSG will still look to find a permanent destination for the 26-year-old in the summer.
Spurs were reported by David Ornstein on NBC Sports to have made Kolo Muani their primary transfer target this month, while United also showed some interest. Ange Postecoglou was said to be impressed by the forward’s versatility – but the north Londoners will now have to look for an alternative to the former Eintracht Frankfurt star.
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