It is no secret that, if Manchester United are to pursue the sort of incomings Ineos are looking for, then a few outgoings would come in very handy at the Premier League giants.
Whether accurate or not, rumours circulating that only ten players will avoid cuts this summer say a lot about how the Red Devils’ new management team feels about this somewhat disjointed and unbalanced team.
If not nobody, then a very small number of players are “guaranteed” to be playing at Old Trafford the following season.
Those who may rest easy in the upcoming months include Kobbie Mainoo, Alejando Garnacho, Rasmus Hojlund, and Andre Onana.
It seemed like the beginning of the exodus when Manchester United announced Raphael Varane’s exit last week. He will almost definitely be joined by Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, and Sofyan Amrabat, as Anthony Martial’s contract is set to expire following this weekend’s repeat of the FA Cup final at Wembley against Man City.
Offers will be considered, too, for Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek, Hannibal Mejbri and maybe Facundo Pellistri too when they return from loan.
But while the sale of Alvaro Fernandez will not free up enough funds for Man United to splash out heavily on, say, a Jarrad Branthwaite or a Michael Olise, the phrase ‘every little helps’ comes to mind.
Manchester United could sell Alvaro Fernandez today
During the January transfer window, Benfica signed Fernandez, also known as Alvaro Carreras in Portugal, on a short-term contract. But part of the agreement was an option-to-buy clause from the Portuguese titans.
The Spain under-21 international also seems to have earned a long-term stay at the Stadio da Luz despite a tough start to life in Lisbon, having finally shown head coach Roger Schmidt how valuable he is.
“Benfica trigger buy option clause for Alvaro Fernandez,” Fabrizio Romano writes on X, backing up previous claims made by Mais Futebol.
“Deal completed today. Alvaro signs with Benfica for the next five years.
“Manchester United will receive fee in the region of 6 million euros.”
Interestingly, Romano adds that Man United will have the option to bring Fernandez back to Old Trafford should they opt to do so in the future. The former Preston North End loanee will also earn United a sizeable windfall if he goes from strength-to-strength in Portugal before leaving Benfica for a substantial sum somewhere down the line.
Benfica-bound left-back ‘can be a great player’
“I see him as a mentally strong player and I believe he reacts well when he doesn’t have many minutes. I had conversations with him at Granada about this,” Paco Lopez, who worked with Fernandez in the first half of 2023/24 in La Liga, tells A Bola.
“He knows there are aspects to improve and he will definitely improve. I believe he has a very promising future. Alvaro Carreras is a player with a lot of offensive talent.
“He is a technically very evolved player. Plays well on the wing, links well with his team-mates, has a good pass. Technically, for a full-back, he is a player with a lot of quality,” Lopez adds.
“But, of course, he is still young and has to complete his growth process and improve some defensive aspects. It’s a matter of working and being patient with him.
“With work and dedication, I believe he can be a great player. I believe that over time he can be an important player for any team. Alvaro is young and clearly has a promising future, I am convinced of that.”
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