Manchester United could trigger a player’s buy-back clause reportedly worth just £16.7m, which could see him return to the club just months after he left the Red Devils.
United currently sit 13th in the Premier League after a dismal first half of the 2024/25 campaign.
And since Ruben Amorim took over in November, they have been in relatively poor form aside from the 2-1 away win against Manchester City in December and last Sunday’s 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.
But fans will be hoping Amorim, 39, can put his own stamp on United’s squad now that the winter transfer window is open.
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However, the club are expected to adopt a ‘sell to buy’ policy in order to fall in line with PSR and financial regulations.
Academy graduates Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo have both been linked with a potential move away from the club with sales of homegrown players representing ‘pure profit’ from a PSR standpoint.
But it is a former United academy star who could make a shock return to the club.
Left-back Alvaro Fernandez joined the club from Real Madrid’s academy in September 2020.
He began training with the first team in 2021/22 as well as turning out for the Under-23 side.
Fernandez, 21, was called up to the senior squad by Ralf Rangnick in April 2022 for a Premier League fixture against Chelsea.
A month later, he was named the club’s U23 Player of the Year. For the majority of the 2022/23 season, he was loaned to Preston North End before loans at Granada and Benfica followed in the 2023/24 season.
And it was at the Lisbon-based club where he found form, so much so that he penned a permanent deal at the Estadio da Luz in May 2024.
This season he has gone from strength to strength making 26 appearances in all competitions with a return of three goals and two assists.
The Spaniard left United for a reported £5m fee but could return due to a buy-back clause in his contract worth around £16m according to the Express.
Centre Devils report that the buy-back clause is £16.7m.
A deal would arguably make sense, given the fact Luke Shaw has struggled with injuries in recent seasons.
While Diogo Dalot, who regularly starts as a left wing-back, is more suited to the right flank.
Fernandez previously voiced how he was keen 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 £15m by Transfermarkt.
Topics: Manchester United, Transfers, Premier League, Alvaro Fernandez, Luke Shaw, Diogo Dalot, Benfica, Champions League
Luke Davies