Gary Neville urges Man Utd to avoid transfer mistake with 'struggling' Chelsea flop

01/27/2025 10:14 AM

Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to not consider a swap deal with Chelsea involving Alejandro Garnacho and Christopher Nkunku.

Garnacho's future at Old Trafford has become the biggest talking point of this month's transfer window, with United open to offers for their academy graduate as they look to boost their dire financial situation.

Both Chelsea and Napoli have expressed an interest in signing Garnacho before the end of the month, with the Red Devils reportedly holding out for a fee of around £65m.

United, meanwhile, are said to be monitoring the situation of Christopher Nkunku who has found Premier League minutes in short supply this season under Enzo Maresca.

As such, the possiblity of a swap deal between both clubs for the two players has even been mooted ahead of the final days of the window.

However, that deal has not been endorsed by Neville who is unsure as to why his former club would sanction such a transfer.

‘I don't get it for United,’ he told NBC Sports when asked about the potential swap.

‘Nkunku's hardly kicked a ball, he obviously had the injury when he first came in but he’s struggled to get going at Chelsea.

‘I'm not saying Garnacho is the best player in the world and that he he needs to stay at Manchester United. If they get good money for him then okay that might work."

‘But to swap him for Nkunku, I have to say that doesn’t feel like I move I would do if I was Manchester United.’

‘I can see why you would do it if you were Chelsea.’

Not everyone is in agreement, though, with Paul Merson suggesting that United should jump at the chance to bring in Nkunku and find a new home for Garnacho.

'If I'm Man United, I'm getting that deal done, 100 per cent. I'm dropping him [Garnacho] off and picking up Nkunku,' Merson said on Sky Sports.

'He's a good player, he's just bang unlucky at Chelsea because of Palmer whose done unbelievably well. He's a good player. Honestly, if Man United got him they'd get a signing-and-a-half.

'I don't get the Garnacho one. He's not better than Jadon Sancho nowhere near, he's not better than Pedro Neto. Him and Noni Madueke have their days when they're looking good but they won't be consistent enough.

'I don't see where he plays but the other lad walks into the Man United team.'

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