Napoli will send warning to Man Utd after ‘nearing’ Alejandro Garnacho agreement
Napoli are close agreeing personal terms with Alejandro Garnacho as they step up their efforts to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Antonio Conte has earmarked the Manchester United winger as the ideal successor to the talismanic Georgia international who has joined Paris Saint-Germain.
‘It’s a dream to be here. I’ve heard a lot of very positive things about Paris Saint-Germain,’ said Kvaratskhelia ahead of his medical on Friday. ‘I feel immense pride in joining.’
Garnacho, meanwhile, has been in and out of Ruben Amorim’s team ever since he replaced Erik ten Hag as manager in November.
United are already understood to have rejected Napoli’s €40m offer plus add-ons, but Corriere dello Sport report that the Serie A leaders are prepared to submit an improved offer worth €50m.
Personal terms are said to have been agreed but Napoli, who have also retained an interest in fellow United misfit Marcus Rashford, will warn United that they are not prepared to wait around for an answer.
United are not opposed to parting company with a player whose sale would represent pure profit given his status as a homegrown talent.
Should United delay a decision on whether to sell Garnacho before the transfer deadline, Napoli will turn their attention to signing Deportivo La Coruna winger Yeremay Hernandez instead.
Sunday’s FA Cup match at Arsenal, which United went on to win in a penalty shoot-out, was the first time Garnacho had made Amorim’s starting XI since the 3-2 home defeat to Nottingham Forest on December 7.
The 20-year-old retained he place in the team that came from behind to beat Southampton on Thursday, ahead of which Amorim spoke about his future.
When asked if Garnacho had the qualities to have a good future at Old Trafford, Amorim said: ‘That is clear.
‘He has talent. He needs to learn to play in a different position. He needs to play better inside. He improves a lot recovering (his) position when he doesn’t have the ball.
‘But doing that, sometimes he’s not in the right place to make transitions like he was in the past because I prefer to defend and then build up with all the team to reach the final third.
‘He’s finding the best way to play in this system. He’s improving during training. He started the last game. Let’s see tomorrow (against Southampton).’
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