The INEOS Test: Manchester United's Co-Owners MUST Resist Swap Involving Chelsea Star

Alejandro Garnacho continues to be linked with Chelsea
Alejandro Garnacho continues to be linked with Chelsea | Shaun Botterill/GettyImages

INEOS' co-ownership of Manchester United has been divisive to say the least amid cost-cutting measures and questionable recruitment decisions. Sir Jim Ratcliffe arrived as somewhat of a hero but is feeling the wrath of fans just months into running the sporting aspects of the club.

One major decision that has divided the Old Trafford faithful is to put Alejandro Garnacho up for sale. United want nothing less than €70m for the Argentine winger, as per Fabrizio Romano. Serie A giants Napoli have shown interest but Chelsea are all also eyeing the 20-year-old.

The latest reports suggest the Blues have held talks with United over a potential swap deal involving Garnacho and French attacker Christopher Nkunku. Sky Sports reports that the two clubs are considering the proposal although there's been no final decision made.

Manchester United Must Snub Christopher Nkunku

Chelsea v Morecambe - Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Christopher Nkunku is injury prone and past his best | Crystal Pix/MB Media/GettyImages

Erik ten Hag was lambasted for constantly highlighting injuries as the main cause of a lack of form during his last two seasons in charge of United. There was an evident lack of playing identity but he wasn't lying about the injuries piling up.

The Red Devils have been eager to build a squad boasting talent who don't have a worrisome injury record. Nkunku definitely isn't such a player amid constant fitness problems during his Chelsea spell. The Frenchman is an excellent forward there's no doubting that.

However, Nkunku has been sidelined with three significant injuries since arriving at Stamford Bridge in July 2023. He started his Blues spell with an unfortunate serious knee injury that prevented him from appearing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

This injury took him out of action for months and he missed 20 Chelsea games. It looked as though he'd returned to full fitness at the back end of 2023 but fitness issues put him on the sidelines again for nine matches.

Nkunku's injury record made for sorry reason by this point and he suffered a hip injury in January 2024, hampering the early stages of action with the west Londoners. A hamstring problem led to 68 days sidelined, missing 14 games between February and May last year.

That amounts to 40 matches missed during his time at Chelsea due to injuries. If you wonder why the Blues are so open to his sale then you needn't look further than how injury prone the France international is.

That's also discounting the fact he's 27 and perhaps past his peak which came at RB Leipzig. He bagged 70 goals and 54 assists in 172 games for the Bundesliga giants. But at Stamford Bridge he's not trusted due to his fitness and he's managed 16 goals and four assists in 42 games.

Alejandro Garnacho Is The Better Talent Currently

Enzo Maresca doesn't have Nkunku in his plans because he has such an exciting crop of attackers to choose from. The Frenchman sits behind Jadon Sancho in the pecking order, which is telling of how he views for the former PSG man given Sancho is on loan from United with an obligation to buy for £25 million.

It also should give INEOS an insight into why Nkunku shouldn't be entertained as part of a swap deal for Garnacho. The latter is just 20 and has years ahead of him so we'd be worse off in the operation should it take place.

Let's imagine Garnacho thrives at Stamford Bridge and becomes just as formidable as Cole Palmer on the left of Maresca's attack. In years to come if Real Madrid or Barcelona were to come calling he could be valued at a staggering fee and the Red Devils will be kicking themselves they accepted a simple swap for a third-place Golden Boy ranking talent. INEOS must not accept Nkunku for the Argentine.