Manchester United will return to Premier League action against top-four rivals Newcastle United on Sunday afternoon, with Erik ten Hag’s men preparing for yet another grueling schedule in the coming weeks.
With the former Ajax manager’s squad depth being tested to the limit, the Dutchman will be hoping to see teenage sensation Alejandro Garnacho return to the fold sooner rather than later, after the 18-year-old sustained ankle ligament damage during the club’s last league game against Southampton.
The Madrid-born speedster is expected to be available for selection before the end of the season, but in the meantime, Ten Hag will be without a player who has become a “game-changer” for the Red Devils, according to Manchester Evening News journalist Samuel Luckhurst.
Despite his youth, the Argentine international has already contributed nine goals in all competitions this season, looking “unstoppable” at times prior to his recent injury setback, according to pundit Darren Bent.
Given the youngster’s impact at senior level thus far, it appears that the Old Trafford outfit are already planning to offer the former Atletico Madrid asset a new, bumper new contract, with another La Liga giant, Real Madrid, circling in recent times.
A long-term extension would appear to be just reward for a player who has truly exploded onto the scene this season, with United feeling like they hit the jackpot when they signed the wing wizard, following what has been a remarkable, meteoric rise.
What is the current market value of Alejandro Garnacho?
While Garnacho’s Red Devils career is still in its early stages, it already appears as if the Premier League side struck a true bargain when bringing the teen starlet to England back in 2020, having prised the 5 foot 11 man from the Spanish capital for a fee of just £420k.
The exciting showman is clearly a far more valuable asset, with CIES Football Observatory now valuing him at around £18m, roughly 42 times (4,185%) more than what United initially paid for his services.
Ten Hag is unlikely to sell anytime soon, with Garnacho quickly establishing himself as an important member of the 53-year-old’s squad, notably scoring at Elland Road last month and assisting Marcus Rashford’s winner in the Manchester derby back in January.
Those two instances, in particular, demonstrated that the emerging superstar is a truly fearless and confident individual, displaying no signs of nerves despite the often stressful nature of competing in the senior set-up.
While there have been some concerns about Garnacho’s attitude this season, he has quickly earned the adoration of those at the Theatre of Dreams due to his direct and dynamic nature, with the ability to get the crowd off their feet with a moment of trickery or a penetrating run in behind.
Of course, there are still issues to work out, with Ten Hag stating earlier this month that the forward needs to make more of a “impact as a starter,” but last season’s FA Youth Cup final hero is quickly becoming a cult figure among United fans.
