Next season at Manchester United, Alejandro Garnacho may face challenges.
Alejandro Garnacho should have stronger competition next season. (Image: Getty)
Alejandro Garnacho, who was outclassed in Manchester United’s 4-0 loss at Crystal Palace on Monday night, might be growing more worried ahead of the upcoming campaign. Michael Olise solidified his name near the top of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s wishlist at Selhurst Park, and he is reportedly a priority target for the first summer transfer window of his project.
On a historic night for Palace, the 22-year-old winger terrorized United’s weakened left side the entire game, opening and closing the score between goals from Jean-Philippe Mateta and Tyrick Mitchell.
The Red Devils are reportedly in the lead in the competition to sign him this summer and don’t think playing in the Champions League will stop them.
Last summer, Olise could have joined Chelsea for as little as £35 million, but he turned down the opportunity and agreed to a new contract with Palace that included an increased release clause.
His performance against United will have persuaded the club to activate that clause sooner rather than later. He is expected to cost approximately £60 million once it activates at the end of the season.
It was reported that club officials had decided to make Olise one of the first signings of the INEOS era even prior to the non-contest organized by Oliver Glasner.
This season, Garnacho has dominated the right wing, surpassing £86 million failure Antony in Erik ten Hag’s hierarchy.
However, he was clearly outclassed in South London on his 36th consecutive United start, and Ratcliffe would not have approved a high fee for Olise in order to use him as a squad option.
Marcus Rashford has had a better season than Garnacho, a natural left winger; therefore, it’s possible that the Frenchman’s arrival would put the struggling £315,000-per-week star at greater risk.
However, if United’s misfiring forwards keep playing at a mediocre level under Ratcliffe’s brutal new regime, none of them will be safe for very long.
The INEOS tycoon has shown through significant off-field adjustments since joining the ownership group in February that he is prepared to shake things up and rouse United from its ten-year hibernation.
In an effort to revive a winning culture and the club’s standing as the greatest in the world, a new chief executive, sporting director, technical director, and probably manager will be in place for the upcoming season.
Olise is being considered as the first recruit for the new chapter, and that will definitely extend into the playing squad starting this summer.
But United’s most recent dismal performance would be enough to turn down any potential signing, especially given the growing likelihood that there won’t be any European football available for next season.
