Napoli’s sporting director, Giovanni Manna, has made it clear that the club will not overpay for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho during the closing days of the January transfer window.
Garnacho’s uncertain future at Old Trafford has become one of the major storylines this transfer window.
United is reportedly open to offers for their academy star as they seek to address financial concerns.
Napoli quickly emerged as a potential destination for the 20-year-old Argentine but saw their initial bid rejected, with United demanding £70 million.
Recent reports suggest the Red Devils have reduced their asking price to €65m (£54.8m), but a deal is still out of reach.
Meanwhile, Chelsea has taken the lead in the race for Garnacho, with the player reportedly favoring a move within the Premier League if he leaves Manchester this month.
Napoli, however, remains in the hunt for Garnacho as they search for a replacement for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who joined Paris Saint-Germain earlier this month.
Speaking ahead of Napoli’s 2-1 victory over Juventus, Manna emphasized that the club would not succumb to unreasonable demands during negotiations.
“Karim Adeyemi and Alejandro Garnacho are players we like, but they’re not the only ones on our radar,” Manna told DAZN.
“We are assessing our options carefully, but we won’t exceed market value. This approach applies not only to transfer fees but also to salaries.”
Manna also noted that while Napoli is committed to strengthening their squad, the club must balance financial prudence with on-field ambition. “We’ll do what’s best for the team while staying true to our principles,” he added.
Chelsea, on the other hand, has been more reserved about their pursuit of Garnacho. Manager Enzo Maresca addressed the situation briefly, highlighting the depth in Chelsea’s wide attacking options.
“Our current lineup on the wings includes Pedro Neto and Noni Madueke on the right, and Jadon Sancho on the left,” Maresca explained.
“We had Misha [Mykhailo Mudryk], but he’s unavailable now. Tyrique George is also a promising young talent who can contribute.”
As the transfer window nears its conclusion, the race for Garnacho’s signature remains wide open, with Napoli and Chelsea vying for the winger’s services.