Chelsea handed Alejandro Garnacho boost with Ruben Amorim evasive on Manchester United future | OneFootball

Blues are in hot pursuit of the Argentine forward, who may have played his last match at Old Trafford

Ruben Amorim has refused to rule out the possibility of Alejandro Garnacho potentially leaving Manchester United this month amid transfer interest from Chelsea.

Garnacho was recalled to the United starting XI for Thursday night’s so-called ‘Battle of Britain’ clash against Rangers in the Europa League, delivering a lively display that saw him provide his side’s main attacking threat in the first half before hitting the post from inside the box in the second.

United boss Amorim was evasive on the future of the former Atletico Madrid youngster after the dramatic last-gasp 2-1 victory at Old Trafford secured by captain Bruno Fernandes’ stoppage-time volley that came after substitute Cyriel Dessers looked to have snatched a late point for Rangers to cancel out an unfortunate own goal from Jack Butland.

"I don't know what will happen," the Portuguese said when asked about Garnacho’s immediate future, with the transfer window set to close for business on February 3.

"Let's focus on the games. Let's improve the team and think about the players who are here. Until the window is closed we don't know what will happen."

United’s next two matches are both away from home against Fulham in the Premier League and Romanian side FCSB in their final Europa League league phase fixture, raising the possibility that Garnacho may well have now played his final match at Old Trafford.

Asked if that was indeed the case in his post-match press conference, Amorim told reporters: “No, I’m focused on the games and he’s here, he’s a player for Manchester United. [He] was really important for us today and let’s see in the next days.

"I think he’s improving in every aspect of the game. He was better today playing inside, also outside, changing positions, he’s improving the recovering position.

"You can see it until 90 minutes he’s always there recovering and helping, sometimes showing some frustration and that is good because he wants more.

"I think he has potential to be so much better in every situation in the game. What I can say is he understood what I was trying to do, was really clear. I just want to help them but in the end it’s them that do the job."

It has been widely speculated that United - rumoured to be in talks with Serie A side Lecce over a deal for Danish left-back Patrick Dorgu - will have to sell players before they can buy in this window, with Marcus Rashford again omitted from the matchday squad against Rangers as work continues on securing a potential move away from his boyhood club.

Tyrell Malacia, another player linked with a late January exit from United, was introduced as a second-half substitute on Thursday in place of the injured Leny Yoro, with fellow defender Matthijs de Ligt also going off at the interval with a knock.