Manchester United are confident of agreeing a new long-term contract with Alejandro Garnacho, sources have told ESPN.
Garnacho has a deal until 2024 with the option of another 12 months but a new agreement is being negotiated to reflect the 18-year-old’s rapid development since making his first team debut in April.
His wage has increased incrementally since his arrival from Atletico Madrid in 2020 but United believe his status as a regular within Erik ten Hag’s senior squad warrants fresh terms.
Negotiations have been ongoing since the summer but sources have told ESPN that a new round of talks are scheduled. There is interest in Garnacho from Real Madrid but United are convinced the forward is keen to stay at Old Trafford after breaking into Ten Hag’s team.
He has made 15 appearances this season, scoring two goals, and was named in Argentina’s provisional squad ahead of the World Cup.
After coming off the bench to set up Marcus Rashford’s winner against Manchester City on Saturday, Ten Hag said the youngster was almost unique in the Premier League.
“He has a skill that I don’t see many players in the Premier League having, he beats players one on one,” the United manager said.
“But he’s learnt in the last months about how to play in a team, how to live, how to do the right things in the week, how to have the right attitude on the training ground and you see how he’s acting as a team player and with his individual skills that can make the difference.
“Also for him it’s to keep going in the process. It’s not done. There is a lot to come. There is a lot of room for improvement with him but he can help, he can contribute on the highest level already and I’m really happy.
“It’s a bonus for us as a club that you bring in young players and they can come not only into the squad but the team and I think that is a part of our project that has to contribute to our success.”
Sir Lewis Hamilton not currently involved in Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s Manchester United bid
Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s move to buy Manchester United does not currently include his so-called partner Sir Lewis Hamilton.
Ratcliffe has entered the bidding for United as one of the UK’s richest men looks to complete a takeover of the club he supported as a boy.
The 70-year-old has a reported net worth a £12.5billion thanks to the success of global chemical company INEOS, which is principal partner and one-third shareholder of Hamilton’s Mercedes team.
The 38-year-old Hamilton formed part of Sir Martin Broughton’s failed bid to buy Chelsea last year, but subsequently bought a stake in NFL franchise Denver Broncos.
Ratcliffe meanwhile invested in Mercedes in 2020, has attended a number of races and grown close to Hamilton – who holds the record for the most wins in Formula One.
When asked about Ratcliffe’s potential United takeover at last September’s Dutch Grand Prix, Hamilton said: “Jim is part-boss and part-partner. I’d say we’re more partners because we’re in this together.
“I hope in the future to do something with Jim and build with him. I don’t know when that will be or what that will be.
“But I do want to get more and more involved in teams because I really do believe in black ownership and black equity, because there is a real lack of that in sport.”
However, it is understood Hamilton is not currently involved in the bid.
United announced on November 22 that the board “will consider all strategic alternatives, including new investment into the club, a sale, or other transactions involving the company”.
Executive co-chairmen Avram and Joel Glazer added that they were looking to “maximise the significant growth opportunities available to the club today and in the future”.
INEOS become the first prospective buyer to confirm entering the bidding for United, with a spokesperson saying that it had “formally put ourselves into the process”.
The Raine Group is acting as United’s exclusive financial advisor having overseen Chelsea’s sale last year.
The investment banking firm is looking to keep the process moving as quickly as possible, with the first quarter of the year recognised as a key time.
United face Crystal Palace on Wednesday evening as Erik ten Hag’s men head to Selhurst Park looking for a 10th straight win in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Hamilton will unveil his new Mercedes at the team’s launch at Silverstone on February 15 ahead of the first round of the new F1 season in Bahrain on March 5.
Hamilton’s current £40million-a-year deal with Mercedes expires at the end of the season but it is expected he will commit to a new two-year contract.
SOURCE: espn.co.uk, planetsport.com
