Both clubs are looking to reshape their attacking options, and mutual interest has sparked informal discussions around the two forwards. United have slapped a £70 million price tag on Garnacho, the 20-year-old Argentine winger, whose future at Old Trafford looks increasingly uncertain following a reported falling-out with head coach Ruben Amorim.
Tensions escalated after Garnacho was benched for most of United’s Europa League final against Tottenham, coming on for just 20 minutes. Speaking to BBC Sport, Garnacho expressed his frustration: “Up until the final I played every round helping the team, and today I play 20 minutes, I don’t know.” Amorim is said to be unimpressed with Garnacho’s attitude and inconsistent performances and has encouraged the player to seek a new club. The situation worsened when Garnacho posted a photo of himself wearing an Aston Villa shirt with Marcus Rashford’s name on the back-an image that didn’t sit well with United fans or management. Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham, and Aston Villa have reportedly shown interest, with Garnacho believed to favour staying in England.
Chelsea, eager to strengthen their options on the left wing, have had Garnacho on their radar since January. While United’s openness to a sale-partly driven by financial fair play considerations-has drawn attention, their steep asking price has deterred clubs like Bayer Leverkusen, where Erik ten Hag, a known admirer of Garnacho, currently manages.
On the flip side, Manchester United have rekindled interest in Christopher Nkunku. The 27-year-old Chelsea forward has struggled for game time at Stamford Bridge, mainly due to injury setbacks and stiff competition for places. Despite netting 14 goals last season-most of them in cup matches-Nkunku has yet to secure a consistent role under new boss Enzo Maresca.
United’s director of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, who previously worked with Nkunku at RB Leipzig, is expected to be a key figure in any potential transfer.
While a straight swap isn’t on the table just yet, both clubs are open to negotiating separate deals that could effectively amount to an exchange. “No club-to-club talks are taking place yet,” noted journalist Fabrizio Romano, though he confirmed United’s long-standing interest in Nkunku and Chelsea’s admiration for Garnacho.
The potential exits of Garnacho and Nkunku come amid broader squad overhauls at both clubs. At United, Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Antony are also facing uncertain futures. Antony could be on his way out permanently, with Real Betis reportedly keen to extend his loan. United have already secured Matheus Cunha from Wolves and are targeting Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo to add firepower to their frontline.
For Chelsea, Garnacho’s pace and creativity would bring fresh energy to an already talent-packed attack, which includes the likes of Cole Palmer and Pedro Neto. However, navigating agent negotiations and managing the high fee could prove challenging.
As the summer window heats up, all eyes will be on whether this blockbuster player exchange materialises-potentially reshaping the attacking fortunes of two of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.