Manchester United are looking to end the transfer window with a fire sale of their unwanted players.
Having signed Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo for more than £200million this summer, United are now focusing their efforts on discarding several fringe players, including Alejandro Garnacho.
Amid suggestions that Chelsea will try to lowball United with an offer of about £35million, Garnacho’s employers are sticking by their £50million valuation of the 21-year-old Argentina winger, who has been training away from the first-team squad since telling the club he wants to leave.
United have invested in an entirely new front line this summer
REUTERS/JASON CAIRNDUFF
They point to the fact that Chelsea accepted a bid of about £50million for Noni Madueke as evidence that their valuation is reasonable.
Garnacho has scored 26 goals and set up 22 more in 144 appearances for United. He is desperate to play first-team football, to push his case for inclusion in Argentina’s squad at next year’s World Cup, and thinks he can get it at Stamford Bridge, even though competition there will be fierce.
There is confidence on all sides that Rasmus Hojlund’s move to Napoli will go through before the transfer window closes at 7pm on Monday.
The structure of the deal has not been agreed yet — it could either be a loan or a permanent move — but Napoli’s latest offer consisted of a £4.3million loan fee, plus a permanent transfer fee of £34.6million if the Serie A title-holders qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Hojlund is expected to join Napoli before the window closes
PATRICK MCDERMOTT/GETTY IMAGES
The £73.7million signing of Sesko from RB Leipzig has meant that Hojlund, 22, has not even made it into the match-day squad for the first two games of the season.
United are in negotiations with Real Betis over the sale of Antony. The 25-year-old winger scored nine goals and assisted five more during a successful six-month spell with the Andalusian club last season and United are hopeful that a permanent transfer can be agreed.
The chances of a deal being concluded are helped by the fact Antony is not in the top bracket of earners at United so Betis are likely to be able to afford to pay the majority — if not all — of his wages if they sign him. The Brazilian, who cost United £85million when they signed him from Ajax in 2022, has two years left on his contract at Old Trafford.
United are also exploring loan options for Tyrell Malacia, the 26-year-old Dutch left back, as he enters the final year of his contract.
Jadon Sancho also has one year left on his deal but the club can extend it by a further 12 months if they wish. The 25-year-old winger — like Antony, Malacia and Garnacho — is not training with the first team and recently rejected interest from Roma.
Palace eye Akanji
Crystal Palace have enquired about the possibility of signing Manuel Akanji from Manchester City (Paul Hirst writes).
Pep Guardiola needs to trim his squad and Akanji, 30, is one of six centre halves on the books at City.
Palace have looked at younger alternatives as they consider cashing in on Liverpool target Marc Guéhi, 25, but have asked City if they would be willing to let their Swiss defender leave for a reasonable price.
Akanji, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund for £15million in 2022, started 35 matches last season but is yet to feature this term and was not on the bench for last Saturday’s defeat by Tottenham Hotspur.
Akanji is one of six centre backs on the books at City
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Meanwhile, Palace have edged closer to a £19.9million deal for the Villarreal winger Yeremy Pino.
The 22-year-old, who scored four goals and provided eight assists in La Liga last season, also helped the Spanish club beat Manchester United on penalties in the 2021 Europa League final.
West Ham approach Forest over Sangaré loan
West Ham United have asked to loan Ibrahim Sangaré, hoping that Nottingham Forest will release the midfielder after signing Douglas Luiz (Gary Jacob and Charlotte Duncker writes).
Sangaré has played in both Premier League games for Forest this season and The Times understands there is no desire to get rid of the 27-year-old but a sizeable offer would be considered. West Ham have proposed a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
West Ham have also agreed a £14million deal for Soungoutou Magassa, with the Monaco midfielder set to sign a six-year deal.
Magassa is close to completing a move to West Ham
NEAL SIMPSON/ALLSTAR/GETTY IMAGES
Meanwhile, Tottenham Hotspur are in talks to offload midfielder Yves Bissouma to Galatasaray. The Turkish club have proposed a loan with an obligation to buy. Bissouma has a year left on his contract and was signed for £25million from Brighton & Hove Albion in 2022.
The Crystal Palace forward Matheus França is set to leave for the Brazilian club Vasco da Gama on loan. The 21-year-old scored once and claimed two assists in 14 Premier League appearances since he joined from Flamengo for an initial £17million in 2023.