Manchester United‘s January transfer window is shaping up to be anything but quiet, with rumors swirling around the futures of key players Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. While manager Rúben Amorim has publicly stated his intention to keep both players, persistent speculation and recent events suggest otherwise. Amorim’s seemingly contradictory statements are raising eyebrows and fueling the fire of transfer rumors.

Marcus Rashford’s situation is particularly precarious. He hasn’t featured for United since December 12th, a Europa League match against Viktoria Plzen. This absence, totaling ten matches, nine of which he didn’t even make the bench, has sparked considerable debate and speculation.

At 26, Rashford’s prime years are now, making his prolonged absence from the squad increasingly untenable. With interest from several clubs, including FC Barcelona, his long-term future at Old Trafford remains doubtful, despite Amorim’s public declarations.

Garnacho’s controversies and Chelsea’s interest

Alejandro Garnacho, one of United’s most promising young talents, is also facing an uncertain future. While he started in the recent match against Rangers, his inconsistent appearances and off-field controversies have reportedly caused friction with Amorim.

His exclusion from the Manchester derby squad against City sent a clear message. British media outlets have linked Garnacho’s recent omission from the squad to unprofessional conduct, including alleged leaks of team lineups and use of anonymous social media accounts to criticize teammates.

Adding another layer of complexity, reports from The Athletic‘s David Ornstein suggest strong interest from Chelsea. This is surprising, given Chelsea’s attacking options and Garnacho’s recent performance inconsistencies. Sky Sports even reported that Chelsea is considering a potential swap deal, offering Christopher Nkunku in exchange for Garnacho. Such a deal, while unexpected, could represent a significant shift in the Premier League landscape.

Amorim’s public pronouncements might be a calculated strategy. By outwardly denying any intention to sell either player, he can potentially inflate their market value, securing a higher price should he ultimately decide to part ways with them. The manager is playing a high-stakes game; his actions speak louder than his words.