Nkunku featured for 12 minutes off the bench last night as Chelsea oversaw an unexpected triumph over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup final. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Luckhurst: United reject proposed Alejandro Garnacho swap deal from Chelsea involving player Thierry Henry ‘loves’

Originally posted on Stretty News | By Isabel Ryan | Last updated Jul 14, 2025 4:26 AM ET

Manchester United rejected the chance to sign Christopher Nkunku in exchange for Alejandro Garnacho last month, according to Manchester Evening News.

The Red Devils remain active in their attempts to offload the Argentine international before the window closes on September 1 – ideally before the 2025/2026 campaign gets underway, too, which, in United’s case, is August 17 at home to Arsenal.

Garnacho is not expected to be involved in any form when the squad embarks on their pre-season tour of the United States next week, nor are his wing counterparts Antony, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho.

United uninterested in Nkunku/Garnacho swap

Samuel Luckhurst confirmed this morning that the Reds rebuffed Chelsea’s swap proposal involving Nkunku, despite being linked with the French international last summer and during the winter transfer window.

He, like Garnacho, is widely expected to be on the move in the coming weeks, with Bayern Munich among his suitors. Such a switch would allow Nkunku – whom Thierry Henry admitted he ‘loves’ watching play – to return to the Bundesliga, where he oversaw his most prolific goalscoring form with RB Leipzig prior to his £52 million Stamford Bridge transfer.

Why INEOS must stand firm in Garnacho demands

While INEOS are desperate to get their outcast players off the books as swiftly as possible, you can’t blame them for being uninterested in the proposition.

Garnacho boasts 144 senior appearances at just 21 years old and he has earned eight caps for reigning world champions Argentina, making him one of the side’s most valuable assets of recent years.

He is also considered a homegrown talent due to the fact that he joined from Atletico Madrid’s youth ranks for a fee of £420,000 back in 2020, so his sale would generate straight profit for United and provide a welcome PSR boost.

On the other hand, Nkunku, 27, endured an injury-ridden maiden term with Chelsea in 2023/2024, after which he struggled to cement a starting spot and grew accustomed to playing second fiddle to Nicolas Jackson.

This article first appeared on Stretty News and was syndicated with permission.

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