Alejandro Garnacho has been absent from the start of Chelsea’s pre-season training as the club looks to move him on permanently this summer.
The Argentine winger joined Chelsea from Manchester United just one year ago but has already been deemed surplus to requirements by the club’s hierarchy.
New Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso officially began his reign at Cobham, but Garnacho was a notable absentee from the training pitches from the outset.
The 22-year-old has been permitted to stay away from first-team sessions as he attempts to engineer a permanent exit from Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are preparing to depart for their pre-season tour of Australia on July 25, adding urgency to the situation surrounding the winger’s future.
Per The Athletic, Garnacho is prioritising a fresh start at a club where he can be guaranteed regular first-team football, something that eluded him during his debut campaign in west London.
His debut season in the Premier League proved a significant disappointment, with the winger managing just 14 starts and scoring only one league goal in 24 appearances.
Across all competitions, Garnacho managed eight goals, a return considered well below expectations for a player who arrived carrying such a high-profile reputation.
Chelsea signed the Argentine on a seven-year contract worth £40 million, but the club are now pushing to recoup the majority of that initial investment through a permanent sale.
The Athletic reports that Chelsea will only consider permanent offers for Garnacho and are not willing to entertain loan proposals from interested parties.
Several clubs across the Premier League and Europe are monitoring the situation, while the Saudi Pro League also remains a viable destination for the winger.
Chelsea are reportedly optimistic that a deal for Garnacho can be finalised within the next fortnight, with discussions understood to be at an early stage.
Manchester United retain a financial interest in any transfer, as they are due 10% of the sale fee under the terms of the original deal that took Garnacho to London.
The expected departure forms part of a wider squad overhaul under Alonso, with Chelsea also sanctioning the sale of Tyrique George to Everton for a fee rising to £24 million.
Jesse Derry has additionally departed the club on loan to Sporting CP as Chelsea continue to reshape their attacking options for the season ahead.
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