Leverkusen and Atletico lead chase as Man Utd set £70m asking price | OneFootball

Garnacho Attracting Interest from Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid Amid Manchester United Uncertainty

Winger’s Future in Focus as United Eye Rebuild

Manchester United’s summer transfer window looks set to be shaped by a number of key decisions, and one of the most pressing could concern Alejandro Garnacho. As reported by TeamTalk, the 20-year-old winger is attracting serious attention from across Europe, with Bayer Leverkusen and Atletico Madrid both tracking his situation closely.

Photo: IMAGO

United face a familiar dilemma: how to balance ambition with a tight transfer budget. With the club under pressure to reshape the squad under the INEOS-led football structure, sales will be necessary to finance arrivals. And that reality is putting some of their most valuable assets, including Garnacho, under the spotlight.

Atletico Madrid maintain strong interest

According to TeamTalk, Atletico Madrid are among Garnacho’s “favoured landing spots” should he leave Old Trafford this summer. Interest from Diego Simeone’s side isn’t new. Atleti reportedly “checked out his situation in January,” but no deal materialised.

However, their interest has not cooled. Sources suggest Atleti will be “at the front of the queue” if United give any indication they are willing to entertain offers. The Spanish club are fully aware of Garnacho’s long-term ambition to one day play for Real Madrid and see a move back to La Liga as potentially appealing to the player.

Photo: IMAGO

Bayer Leverkusen join pursuit

The latest club to join the race are newly-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. As per TeamTalk, the German outfit have already “checked in with his representatives over a potential deal.” Manager Xabi Alonso is believed to be an admirer of Garnacho’s direct style and considers him a strong fit for his high-energy, attack-minded system.

Leverkusen are aware of the fierce competition and understand that Garnacho may prioritise a return to Spain. However, the allure of Champions League football and the club’s impressive upward trajectory could make them a persuasive option.

Chelsea monitoring developments

Chelsea are also monitoring the situation. Garnacho has long been on the radar of the recruitment team at Stamford Bridge, with his age and profile aligning closely with their data-driven transfer strategy. Yet financial considerations may be a hurdle. TeamTalk note that “his wage demands would likely be a big problem for Chelsea,” who are cautious about committing large salaries to younger players.

United’s valuation and next steps

Despite reports elsewhere suggesting a £50m price tag, TeamTalk insist Manchester United are holding out for closer to £70m. If offers fall short of that figure, United are likely to push for structured deals including add-ons and performance-related clauses to bridge the gap.

Photo IMAGO

For now, Garnacho remains under contract and an integral part of the first team. But with interest mounting and United needing to make tough decisions this summer, his future remains one of the key storylines to watch.

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For the Manchester United fans, the thought of losing Alejandro Garnacho this early in his career is deeply unsettling. This is a player who embodies everything fans want to see in the shirt — directness, fearlessness, and the kind of spark that’s been missing too often in recent years.

Yes, the club needs funds to reinvest, but selling one of the brightest talents the’ve produced in the past decade feels short-sighted. We’ve been down this road before with United cashing in on young assets to fund a rebuild, only to regret it later. Think of how Jadon Sancho was once seen as the solution. Now they’re flirting with letting go of a player who has already outperformed him in moments that matter.

There’s no guarantee that selling Garnacho for £70m will lead to a more balanced squad. And while that figure sounds substantial, it won’t go far in today’s market, especially when trying to bring in multiple players across positions. The bigger concern is what it says about their direction. If Garnacho, at 20, improving fast, already a fan favourite — isn’t part of the long-term vision, then who is?

Letting him go now could be a decision United regret for years.