Manchester United are reportedly making progress in talks with 18-year-old attacker Alejandro Garnacho over a new contract.
The Argentina youth international left Erik ten Hag impressed on his first start for the club in a 3-0 Europa League win over Sheriff Tiraspol on Thursday night.
Garnacho played 79 minutes of the match at Old Trafford as Man United sealed a place in the knockout rounds thanks to goals from Diogo Dalot, Marcus Rashford and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Since arriving from Atletico Madrid's youth academy in 2020, Garnacho has made six senior appearances for the Red Devils, including a brief cameo off the bench against Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening weekend of the season.
The attacker's existing deal with Man United is due to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season, but the 20-time English champions are believed to have been working on an extension since the summer.
© Reuters
According to the Manchester Evening News, talks are now moving forward with the attacker's entourage, with the Red Devils thought to have an offer of a five-year deal on the table.
The report adds that Juventus have been showing an interest in Garnacho, but Man United remain relaxed about the situation given that he still has nearly three years left on his current deal.
Explaining his decision to hand Garnacho a start on Thursday night, Ten Hag claimed that the teenager showcased a "better attitude" after he was left "not happy" with his efforts in the summer.
"The start was difficult for him in the season. I was not happy with him, but in the last weeks I was happy with him, a better attitude, more resilience, more determination," Ten Hag told reporters.
"And what you see is he has the talent to deal with the ball in tight areas, to run behind and especially also his tempo dribbles, he can take players on and that's a good capability now in his football, especially against opponents who are defending as compact as this opponent.
© Reuters
"I am happy with that, I hope for him it's a stimulant and he knows I have to do better to get into the team, to create more and don't forget you are playing in a team.
"Young kids have to grow and to raise their personality. They have to know what the laws and demands are in football, top football, it's not only about the trick or about scoring one goal.
"We have to win football games, that demands a lot and then you have to fulfil every day the high standards, that is what we have to teach, not only him but we have to teach all the players, but especially the young players."
At youth level, Garnacho has come up with 16 goals and eight assists in 31 games for the Under-18s, as well as five goals and two assists in 16 matches at Under-21 level.
The Madrid-born youngster previously represented Spain at youth level before switching to Argentina, where he has scored four goals in four games for the Under-20s under Javier Mascherano, and he earned his first call-up to the senior squad for March's World Cup qualifiers.
Ben Knapton
