The Serie A champions, Napoli, are reportedly gearing up for a significant summer transfer window, with reports suggesting they are prepared to offer an escape route to Manchester City’s Jack Grealish. However, the Italian giants are also considering an alternative in Manchester United’s promising young star, Alejandro Garnacho, as they weigh their options for bolstering their attacking prowess.
Grealish, who made a monumental £100 million move to Manchester City in 2021, has endured a challenging period at the Etihad Stadium. Despite being part of a hugely successful City side, his individual impact has been limited, evidenced by a modest return of just 17 goals and 23 assists in 157 appearances across all competitions. This past season, his playing time significantly diminished, with only seven Premier League starts and three goals to his name. The clearest indication of his falling out of favour came recently when he was conspicuously omitted from Pep Guardiola’s squad for the Club World Cup.
Guardiola himself has been quite direct about Grealish’s situation, acknowledging the winger’s need for consistent minutes. “Of course, Jack has to play,” the Catalan coach stated. “That‘s the truth. Jack is an unbelievable player that has to play football every three days. And it didn’t happen this season, and last season neither. And he needs to do it with us, or another place.”1 This public admission has fueled speculation that City are open to offers for the England international, with a preference for a permanent transfer rather than a loan.
Napoli, under the guidance of newly appointed manager Antonio Conte, are said to be keen on bringing Grealish to Naples. The club reportedly has a transfer budget of around £45 million, and they see Grealish as a potential replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who departed for PSG in January. There’s a belief within the Napoli camp that Grealish’s style could be a good fit for Conte’s system, and they’ve even signed former City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who accepted a two-year contract after being released, and Manchester United’s Scott McTominay, who has thrived in Serie A. The prospect of reuniting with familiar faces could be an appealing factor for Grealish.
However, a major stumbling block in any potential deal for Grealish is his colossal weekly wage, reportedly exceeding £300,000 at Manchester City. This figure is simply unattainable for Napoli, meaning that for a move to materialize, City would likely need to subsidize a significant portion of his salary, potentially up to 50 percent, if a loan deal were to be agreed upon.
This financial hurdle has led Napoli to explore other avenues, with Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho emerging as a strong alternative. The young Argentine, who recently reached 100 appearances for the Red Devils, is also believed to be available as Manchester United’s new manager Ruben Amorim is reportedly looking to revamp the squad. Relations between Garnacho and Amorim are understood to have become strained, with the player expressing frustration over limited playing time, particularly his benching in the Europa League final. “Up until the final, I’ve played every round, and today to play 20 minutes I don’t know,” Garnacho reportedly stated after the final. “I’m going to try to enjoy the summer and see what happens after.”
While Napoli is reportedly very keen on Garnacho, viewing him as a better long-term investment due to his younger age and higher potential, there are complications on this front too. Manchester United are believed to be demanding a fee in the region of £50 million to £70 million for Garnacho, a figure that might push Napoli’s budget to its limits. Furthermore, Garnacho himself is said to prefer remaining in the Premier League, with Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Tottenham Hotspur also reportedly monitoring his situation.
Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has previously indicated that the club will not overpay for targets. Back in January, Napoli’s £40 million bid for Garnacho was rejected as it fell short of United’s valuation. While United’s asking price may have since been adjusted, it remains to be seen if Napoli will meet their demands or if Garnacho’s desire to stay in England will ultimately scupper a move to Italy.
As the summer transfer window unfolds, Napoli finds itself at a crossroads, weighing the immediate impact of an experienced, albeit high-earning, player like Jack Grealish against the long-term investment and potential of a burgeoning talent like Alejandro Garnacho. The decisions made in the coming weeks will undoubtedly shape the trajectory of their season and the careers of these two prominent Premier League wingers.
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