Manchester United defender Alvaro Fernandez is close to joining Granada with paperwork now being finalised.
United pounced to sign a new left back earlier on transfer deadline day with Sergio Reguilon arriving from Tottenham Hotspur.
Reguilon is on loan for the season but United do hold a break clause which could see him return to Spurs in January.
United decided to dip back into the market having seen Luke Shaw go down with an injury last week.
Tyrell Malacia is out injured too so United have decided to bring in Reguilon – paving the way for another Spanish left back to move on.
Alvaro Fernandez set for Granada deal
Sky Sports now report that ‘paperwork is currently being finalised’ for Alvaro Fernandez to join Granada on loan.
It’s added that the deal is now expected to go through without a hitch ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.
Rather than push Fernandez into first-team action, United are loaning him out for more senior experience elsewhere.
Fernandez spent last season on loan at Championship side Preston North End and impressed at Deepdale.
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United have ruled that Fernandez isn’t ready for Premier League action though and the 20-year-old is heading away again.
Granada won the Spanish second tier title last season and will now be looking for Fernandez to help them achieve La Liga survival this term.
Robbie Savage won’t be happy
Some United fans really don’t understand the logic of landing Reguilon on loan just to then send Fernandez out.
Those supporters would rather see United give a chance to a talented young player rather than bring in a cast-off from Tottenham.
Robbie Savage is one of them having stated his preference for Fernandez to be playing.
Savage told TEAMtalk on Thursday that he can’t understand why United wouldn’t give an opportunity to the former Real Madrid talent.
Savage believes that giving chances to players like Fernandez is what the Manchester United youth setup is all about and certainly won’t be happy to see United farming him off to Spain as Reguilon comes in.
“Man Utd are looking at left-backs, they’ve been linked with so many,” said Savage. “Luke Shaw’s out, Tyrell Malacia is out, who will they go for? For me, I look at Alvaro Fernandez. Went on loan to Preston last year and did ever so well. United have got a fantastic academy and it’s proven over the years. Why not give Alvaro Fernandez an opportunity?”
“He’s with the first-team squad in training, he might not be ready, but you’ve got to give him an opportunity because it will be a short-term fix. Why go and get an experienced player who might not hit the ground running at such a massive football club. The left-backs you’re going to get, unless you invest heavily in one who’s going to take the place of Luke Shaw, for me there’s no point.”
“Allow Fernandez to have an opportunity in the first-team, that’s what Man Utd’s academy is all about,” he added.