Aston Villa in talks to sign Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea
Aston Villa pursues Garnacho
Aston Villa has initiated discussions to acquire Alejandro Garnacho from Chelsea. The proposed deal involves a potential loan, though Chelsea is seeking a permanent element to be part of any agreement for the winger. Reports indicate that Chelsea is open to selling Garnacho, who joined the club from Manchester United last summer.
The Birmingham-based club is reportedly in advanced talks to secure Garnacho, aiming to offer the player a new opportunity. The agreement is expected to include a potential obligation to buy, following an initial loan period. This move comes as Chelsea recently agreed to a record-breaking fee for Morgan Rogers to transfer from Villa to Stamford Bridge.
Garnacho has not yet returned for pre-season training as he seeks a resolution regarding his future. Xabi Alonso, Chelsea’s manager, acknowledged last week that the club is working with Garnacho and his representatives to find a suitable solution for all parties involved. Other clubs, including Roma, have also shown interest in signing Garnacho, and he has admirers in the Saudi Pro League.
Garnacho’s Chelsea struggles and Villa’s interest
Garnacho’s time in west London has been challenging since his transfer from Manchester United. During his single season at Stamford Bridge, he made 43 appearances across all competitions, scoring eight goals and providing four assists. However, his league output was less impactful, with 25 appearances and 1217 Premier League minutes last term, averaging less than 49 minutes per game.
This playing time was less than both Morgan Rogers and Emiliano Buendia, who managed more minutes in the same position for Villa last season. Garnacho’s five goal involvements averaged one every 243 minutes, compared to Rogers’ average of one every 90 minutes and Buendia’s every 190. His struggles at Chelsea have been compounded by a large squad and new arrivals in wide positions, such as Rogers and Sporting CP winger Geovany Quenda.
Unai Emery, Villa’s manager, has been a long-time admirer of Garnacho, having expressed interest in the winger before his move to Chelsea. Emery has reportedly pushed for this proposed transfer. If the deal is finalized, Garnacho would become the fourth major arrival for Emery’s side this summer, joining Johan Manzambi, Joao Gomes, and Modou Kaba Cisse.
Transfer dynamics and financial considerations
The potential transfer of Garnacho is separate from the agreement that will see Morgan Rogers move to Chelsea for a club-record fee. Villa recently completed the signing of Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, who is considered a direct replacement for Rogers, shifting Villa’s focus to recruiting another wide player. Other options considered by Villa included Paris Saint-Germain’s Ibrahim Mbaye and Crysencio Summerville from West Ham United.
Garnacho’s departure from Manchester United to Chelsea was preceded by a strained relationship with then-manager Ruben Amorim. The winger’s dissatisfaction with his playing time, particularly during the Europa League final defeat against Tottenham, led to a public disagreement and ultimately his exit from Old Trafford. He admitted to having done “some bad things” towards the end of his time at United.
Chelsea, despite not competing in Europe this season, is subject to UEFA’s stricter financial regulations. The club entered a four-year settlement agreement with UEFA last summer for breaching regulations and aims to demonstrate financial sustainability. Chelsea has already secured significant outgoings this summer, raising funds from player sales, which helped cover the cost of Rogers’ transfer. The club is expected to continue generating profits from player trading in the current window.
The structure of a loan with a conditional obligation to buy could be beneficial for both clubs, particularly given UEFA’s rules on ‘player exchange transactions’ and settlement agreements. If a permanent transfer were to occur more than 45 days after the Rogers deal is completed, Villa would retain the full profit from Rogers’ sale. UEFA will closely monitor the deal, but the rules allow for flexibility if clubs structure their agreements carefully. Garnacho has made eight senior appearances for Argentina.
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Source: skysports.com
