Manchester United's January transfer window has been extremely anti-climactic so far, especially considering the situation they find themselves in on the pitch.
Ruben Amorim clearly needs reinforcements, but such is Man Utd's financial situation that they have been forced to wait it out for sales before they can enter the market for incomings.
Utd recently opened talks for Patrick Dorgu, which points to the fact that something is happening in the background regarding a sale that could get the club moving.
Now, it has emerged that they are 'very close' to completing the sale that kicks their window into gear and sets them up for a frantic end to the window.
Alejandro Garnacho Napoli transfer latest
It wasn't a transfer anyone thought would happen, especially in January, but it's one that is needed to kickstart Amorim's rebuild at Old Trafford.
Alejandro Garnacho has garnered interest from Napoli since the start of the window and his wages plus his status as an academy product makes him an ideal asset to cash in.
Man Utd's reasons for selling Garnacho stretch beyond those two, and as it stands, he's more valuable as an asset than as a player.
Napoli, realising that, entered the bidding for the player, with their £40 million bid for Garnacho rejected. However, it started the conversation which looks close to a resolution now.
Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Napoli and Utd are 'very close' to meeting in the middle for Garnacho after United lowered their demands and Napoli upped their offer.
Napoli's sporting director Giovanni Manna had a meeting with United's head of negotiations, Matt Hargreaves, which ended positively for both sides.
The report states that United have come down from their initial demand of €80 million to €65 million, and Napoli can raise their offer from €55 million to eventually seal the deal at €60 million.
Manna is just waiting for the final sign-off from Napoli chief Aurelio de Laurentiis after which the improved offer will be submitted that is likely to be accepted.
Garnacho sale should remain an exception for Man Utd
Garnacho's transfer has been spun as a necessity to get United moving towards Amorim's rebuild but that doesn't mean it should become the norm going forward.
His sale is a result of financial mismanagement going back over a decade, where he remains one of the few players not an albatross around United's wage bill.
In an ideal world, if United were to prepare a list of players they want to sell, Garnacho would figure somewhere near the bottom.
Thanks to the Glazers, he has shot up to the top of that list because most players ahead of him on it are unsellable for one reason or another.
United should still look to maintain control of Garnacho's future with a certain clause but nobody would blame Napoli for not agreeing to it considering United's desperation.
The Glazer Mountain of mistakes continues to haunt the club.
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