Barcelona are reportedly keeping a close eye on Manchester United starlet Alejandro Garnacho.
The 18-year-old has started to emerge as a first-team regular under Erik ten Hag after being handed his first-team debut by Ralf Rangnick last season.
Garnacho has one goal and two assists from seven appearances this term, scoring for the senior team for the first time against Real Sociedad in the Europa League.
The Argentina Under-20 international came off the bench to set up two goals for the Red Devils in their EFL Cup win over Aston Villa last week, but his recent run in the first team was not enough to earn him a call-up to the Argentina squad for the World Cup.
Nevertheless, Garnacho's form is understood to have caught the eye of Barcelona, with Fichajes claiming that the Catalan giants are closely monitoring the youngster's progress.
© Reuters
Garnacho is only under contract at Old Trafford until the summer of 2023, meaning that he could depart as a free agent at the end of the season.
Furthermore, Garnacho could enter pre-contract negotiations with foreign clubs in the January transfer window, although Man United are expected to offer the teenager a contract extension.
However, with a renewal still yet to be finalised, Barcelona are hopeful of tempting Garnacho to Camp Nou, with Xavi convinced that he can become a star of the future.
Garnacho also holds a Spanish passport, which is reportedly another plus for Barcelona as the Man United man would not be registered as one of their five non-EU players.
The youngster represented Atletico Madrid for five years between 2015 and 2020 before joining Man United, where he has now made nine senior appearances in all tournaments.
© Reuters
Despite missing out on a place in Argentina's World Cup squad, Ten Hag believes that it would not have been beneficial to Garnacho's career to go to a major international tournament so early.
"It's difficult to say," Ten Hag told the press. "I don't know all the available Argentina players, of course I know a lot of players from Argentina, what is available for them from 26.
"And the other thing is it's a big step to go to a World Cup, where the best players in the world come together, it's a big step. I don't know if that's the right step for him. I think he has to keep his head clean, stay calm, work hard and develop, I think go from game to game."
Garnacho will hope to earn more Premier League game time when the Red Devils take on Fulham in Sunday's final Premier League game before the World Cup break.
With the Argentine not heading to Qatar, he will likely be involved in Man United's December friendlies with Cadiz and Real Betis on the 7th and 10th respectively.
Ben Knapton
