Chelsea have completed a £117m deal for Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rodgers, while former Manchester United man Alejandro Garnacho is tipped to move to the Midlands.
Chelsea are delighted with the release of Garnacho (Image: Getty Images)
Chelsea are set to make their hopes of signing Alejandro Garnacho come true, with Aston Villa interested in signing the player. The Blues signed the Argentine frontman from Manchester United in a £40m deal last summer.
However, the Blues are happy to let Garnacho go after Chelsea completed a £117m move for Villa and England star Morgan Rodgers.
Villa have already submitted a rental offer with a conditional obligation to buy and are close to agreeing an agreement. Chelsea initially wanted to sign the Argentine player permanently.
Unai Emery is thought to be a big fan of Garnacho and wants to help revive his career. The interest in Villa comes just days after new manager Xabi Alonso said he was willing to allow the forward to leave.
He said: “It’s a situation where we’re talking to the sporting directors. There’s interest in him (Garnacho) from other clubs, so we’ll see how this develops. But hopefully it ends in the best possible way for the other clubs.”
Garnacho, 22, signed a seven-year contract with Chelsea after joining from Old Trafford last summer. He made 43 appearances throughout his debut season, scoring just eight goals, only one of which came in the Premier League.
Garnacho will arrive at Villa as Rodgers’ replacement following Rodgers’ own move to Chelsea. The former Middlesbrough player scored 14 goals last season but Paul Merson is not convinced a move to west London is the right move.
He said: “It’s a lot of money. It’s a hell of a lot of money. Buying Morgan Rodgers for £117m is not what Chelsea needed.
“They have Cole Palmer! They play in the same position! Rodgers went to the World Cup instead of Palmer because they play in the same position.
Garnacho only joined Chelsea last summer (Image: Getty Images)
“It would be different if Chelsea went all out and sold Enzo Fernandes and swallowed pills for him, because he’s not worth £100m. Then they play Moises Caicedo at home and then they have Rodgers and Palmer.”
“Rodgers has to carry that price tag around. He’ll sit there and say, ‘There’s no pressure on me, I’m not paying that fee.’ But that’s bullshit. If you don’t perform well, everyone will see that.
“When Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo moved for £100m, a lot of people said that was too much. But the biggest compliment I can give them is that no one mentioned it. They were good signings and that’s what Rodgers has to expect.”
“But he has to make things happen. It’s a more difficult position than Rice or Caicedo. You can do this or that in midfield, but Rodgers will be judged on scoring and creating goals. That’s the hardest job in the world.”
“At the beginning of last season he was terrible for Aston Villa, I’m sure, he was, but then he did well and had a good second half of the season as well.
“He can’t play like that at Chelsea. That’s a no-no. When you spend that much money, it’s a different ball game.”
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