Man Utd are considering an Alvaro Fernandez return. (Image: Getty)
Manchester United are already considering a push to bring Alvaro Fernandez back to the club after selling him to Benfica in the summer transfer window, according to reports. Erik ten Hag's left-back crisis that heavily contributed to a dismal 2023/24 season has continued into the current campaign, leaving him scrambling for a fix.
Tyrell Malacia missed the entirety of last term after suffering a knee injury during pre-season, undergoing multiple surgeries during his ongoing road to recovery.
Luke Shaw was limited to just 12 appearances due to his own woes but featured in the England squad for Euro 2024 and appeared in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
The 29-year-old received mass criticism for his involvement, though, after suffering his latest setback before the start of the new season.
It has stranded Ten Hag with no natural left-backs in the opening 11 matches, where he has overseen just three wins, intensifying uncertainty over his future.
United had a solution up until this summer. Fernandez followed spending the 2022/23 season at Preston North End by joining Granada for the first half of last term.
Ten Hag could've recalled him in January after ending Sergio Reguilon's loan from Tottenham early, but he allowed the 21-year-old to leave again, this time to Benfica.
The Portuguese giants exercised an option to sign Fernandez permanently in the summer for just £5million.
Alvaro Fernandes left Man Utd in the summer. (Image: Getty)
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And while Diogo Dalot has been forced to cover at left-back since the start of the season, Fernandez has been thriving under Bruno Lage.
He has played in all nine of Benfica's Liga Portugal and Champions League games, starting the last seven.
United have reportedly been left impressed while monitoring his developments and are now plotting his return.
According to Record, the M16 giants are already considering triggering the buy-back clause they included in Fernandez's Benfica contract.
It's claimed that United can re-sign him for £17m if they view the Spain U21 international's return as the solution to their problems.
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Fernandez grew through the club's youth ranks at Carrington but didn't make his senior debut before leaving for Lisbon permanently.
Ten Hag excluded him from his 2022 pre-season tour squad. In 2023, Fernandez travelled to the United States but didn't feature in any of the first three friendlies.
He only received opportunities under the Dutchman in the first halves against Leeds United and Lyon and the opening 64 minutes against Athletic Bilbao in pre-season last year.
But Ten Hag and INEOS could be about to acknowledge their blunder and offer Fernandez the chance to make the left-back spot his own.
