Napoli are interested in signing Alejandro Garnacho this summer, with Chelsea now willing to let him go.
The Blues could sanction a sale for around £40m, according to transfer insider Ekrem Konur, following growing frustration over the winger’s situation at Stamford Bridge.
It marks a swift change of heart at Chelsea. Garnacho joined from Manchester United for £40m only last summer, arriving with considerable expectation.
Selling for a similar figure would allow the club to recoup their outlay after just one campaign.
Napoli eye Garnacho as Chelsea open door to £40m exit
His debut season fell some way short. Garnacho scored eight goals in all competitions but managed just one in the Premier League, struggling for consistency and confidence.
The explosive form that made him a fan favourite at Old Trafford rarely surfaced. Xabi Alonso now wants to reshape his attack.
The Spaniard is assessing his options in the wide areas, and Garnacho appears surplus to requirements.
The arrival of Geovany Quenda from Sporting has only crowded the picture further. Napoli are well placed to move.
The Serie A side held interest in Garnacho before his Chelsea switch, and a reunion could offer him a fresh start.
Chelsea, meanwhile, would welcome the chance to trim a bloated squad. He is not short of admirers elsewhere, either.
River Plate are keeping tabs on the 21-year-old, with the Argentine giants exploring the possibility of bringing him home.
A loan has previously been mooted as one option. The stakes are high for Garnacho personally.
His difficult season cost him a place in Argentina’s World Cup squad, a notable omission for a player once seen as central to their future.
A move this summer could prove crucial to reviving his career.
World Cup Power Rankings: France unstoppable, England unconvincing
