Manchester United have had an underwhelming start to the campaign and they are presently 13th in the Premier League with 15 points on the board.
The club have also struggled in the Europa League, with six points from four games. New manager Ruben Amorim will be aiming to turn their fortunes around.
The Portuguese will likely be backed with a small January transfer budget. Correio da Manha (page 27) claim that Amorim ‘wants to divert’ Alvaro Fernandez to United.
The left-back joined Benfica on loan from the Red Devils last winter and subsequently signed permanently for £5 million at the end of the campaign.
Fernandez has since established himself as a key player for the Portuguese giants. Amorim appears keen on re-signing him with the buy-back clause in his deal.
The Spanish ace can be signed by interested clubs for a release clause worth £42m, but United have the option to bring him back for £17m at the start of next year.
Liverpool are also interested in the United graduate, but the Red Devils have a clear advantage due to the low buy-back option.
Fernandez would be a solid acquisition for Amorim
The 21-year-old has exclusively played left-back for Benfica, but he also impressed at left wing-back during loan spell with Preston North End.
Fernandez has been brilliant on both ends of the pitch for Benfica this season. He has won 62 percent of his duels per outing with an average of 2.2 tackles and five recoveries.
Fernandez has registered 28 passes in the opposition half per league game. He has also chipped in with two goals and two assists in his 16 appearances in all competitions.
Amorim could see him as an ideal solution for the left wing-back role ahead of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia, who are injury-prone. Shaw could be offloaded by next summer.
The 39-year-old tactician could also consider Fernandez as an option in his three-man defence. He could play as the left-sided centre-back when Lisandro Martinez requires a breather.
He would represent a terrific signing for United at £17m in January.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com.
