Alejandro Garnacho will be looking to continue his fine form at Manchester United when club football returns after the World Cup....CONTINUE READING
The World Cup is there to be enjoyed but for Alejandro Garnacho, the tournament has disrupted his incredible flow in his breakthrough season with Manchester United.
The Argentine sensation was briefly considered for a last-minute call-up for his national side but has instead remained behind in Manchester to continue ticking over ahead of club football’s return in December.
United face Burnley in the Carabao Cup on December 21 following the conclusion of their mid-season trip to Spain where they will lock horns with Real Betis and Cadiz in friendlies.
Garnacho will be keen to hit the ground running and continue where he left off for the Red Devils but he could be facing further competition in the coming months at Old Trafford.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo has now moved on and it’s clear that Erik ten Hag rates the 18-year-old highly, there could be extra reinforcements arriving through the door in the January transfer window.
PSV and Holland star Cody Gakpo is top of United’s shopping list after proving his worth at the World Cup, where he netted in all of Holland’s three Group A victories over Senegal, Ecuador and Qatar.
Gakpo is now valued in the region of £50million as PSV look to secure a mammoth fee in order to agree to a sale.
Ten Hag knows Gakpo well from his time in charge of Ajax and he has held personal talks with the player since moving to the Premier League.
Furthermore, United are now believed to be back in contact with Gakpo’s representatives as they prepare to launch a January swoop.
Should a move for Gakpo fail to bear fruit, Christian Pulisic is another target that could fall under consideration.
United looked at an unlikely loan deal in the summer when the USMNT captain’s future at Chelsea looked unclear but Pulisic eventually stayed put.
He is believed to be keen on staying at Chelsea but the chance to join another big club in United could prove to be an exciting proposal should United make their move.
Both players are likely to become direct rivals for Garnacho in his quest to nail down a starting berth.
Yet there is another player already at United who also looks set to battle the Argentine for minutes in the form of Facundo Pellistri.
While the young Uruguayan has not been used by Ten Hag so far this season, he started all three of his nation’s matches at the World Cup in Qatar.
That would suggest he will return to United in top shape after an ankle injury prevented him from leaving the club on loan earlier this summer.
Pellistri has been continually overlooked by Ten Hag but now he seems ready to compete for a place in the side or at least, provide some additional competition and cover.
A number of clubs from Spain are believed to be interested in taking Pellistri on loan and a January move is very much possible, particularly given Garnacho seems to be held in higher esteem.
It’s crystal clear that Garnacho is considered to be a major talent for the future and arguably United’s best prospect which will soon be reflected in the contract offer that will be presented to the teen by the Old Trafford hierarchy.
