Chelsea are set to sign Alejandro Garnacho after finally agreeing a £40million deal, with Manchester United receiving their largest-ever fee for an academy graduate.
After month-long talks, the 21-year-old Argentine will undergo his medical before signing a long-term contract to move to Stamford Bridge before deadline day.
Chelsea initially wanted to pay £25m while United insisted on £50m. They met in the middle at £40m with a 10 per cent sell-on fee included for any future transfer.
Both clubs had been locked in negotiations over the deal after the 21-year-old was told by Ruben Amorim to leave at the end of last season.
Garnacho graduated from United’s academy after an initial period in Atletico Madrid’s youth set-up, but he had been pushing to leave ever since learning of Chelsea’s interest in him this summer.
Such was his desire to force through the move, Garnacho is said to have turned down all options other than joining the Blues or staying in United’s ‘bomb squad’.
Chelsea are set to sign Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho in a £40million deal
Ruben Amorim told Garnacho to find a new club in front of his United team-mates
Enzo Maresca has got his man after both clubs reached a compromise for the outcast
Chelsea had started off the pursuit with low offers around the £25m and £30m mark, but edged closer to a figure satisfactory to United after lengthy negotiations.
The Argentina international had placed himself on a collision course with Amorim after publicly revealing his frustration at only being brought on as a late substitute in United’s dismal Europa League final defeat by Tottenham in May.
His brother Roberto also stoked the fire by posting a message on social media criticising the head coach for throwing Garnacho ‘under the bus’.
Daily Mail Sport reported in June that the winger was among five United players given permission to delay their return to training while they looked for new clubs. Garnacho is understood to have been told to move on by Amorim in front of his team-mates.
However, Blues insiders did their homework on the attacker before committing to bringing him in and found they should have no concerns over his character, with him having fallen out of favour under Amorim at United.
Garnacho will get to compete with another new signing in Jamie Gittens on the left wing under Enzo Maresca, after what has been a hectic summer of trading.
With the £40m, Garnacho will represent United’s fourth largest sale in their history after Cristiano Ronaldo, Romelu Lukaku and Angel Di Maria.
Garnacho made 144 senior appearances for United, scoring 26 goals.
Meanwhile, United remain close to allowing fellow bomb squad member Antony to rejoin Real Betis while Rasmus Hojlund is finalising details with Napoli.
