Currently, United sits 13th in the Premier League following a disappointing first half of the 2024/25 season.
Since Ruben Amorim took over in November, the team has been in relatively poor form, except for a 2-1 away win against Manchester City in December and last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield. ..Continue Reading
Fans are hopeful that 39-year-old Amorim can make his mark on United’s squad now that the winter transfer window is open.
However, the club is expected to follow a ‘sell to buy’ policy to comply with PSR and financial regulations.
Academy graduates Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have been linked with potential moves away from the club, as sales of homegrown players represent ‘pure profit’ from a PSR perspective.
But it’s a former United academy star who might make a surprising return to the club.
Left-back Alvaro Fernandez joined United from Real Madrid’s academy in September 2020.
He began training with the first team during the 2021/22 season while also playing for the Under-23 side.
Fernandez, 21, was called up to the senior squad by Ralf Rangnick in April 2022 for a Premier League match against Chelsea.
A month later, he was named the club’s U23 Player of the Year. He spent most of the 2022/23 season on loan at Preston North End before subsequent loans at Granada and Benfica in the 2023/24 season.
It was at Benfica where he excelled, leading to a permanent deal at the Estadio da Luz in May 2024.
This season, he has continued to impress with 26 appearances in all competitions, scoring three goals and providing two assists.
The Spaniard left United for a reported £5 million fee but could return due to a buy-back clause in his contract worth around £16 million, according to the Express.
Centre Devils report that the buy-back clause is £16.7 million. Such a deal would make sense, considering Luke Shaw’s struggles with injuries in recent seasons.
Diogo Dalot, who often starts as a left wing-back, is more suited to the right flank.
Fernandez previously expressed his desire to “return to United” in an interview with The Athletic while on loan at Granada in December 2023.
“What message did United give me?” said Fernandez. “That I should go out on loan, that Ten Hag didn’t count on me, that I should continue to gain experience, rhythm, and we’ll see what happens in the future.
“But it’s clear that football doesn’t end at any club and that you have to keep working. My main objective is to return to United and make a place for myself there.”
Fernandez’s Benfica contract is set to run until June 2029 and he is valued at only £15m by Transfermarkt.
