Ruben Amorim has insisted at Manchester United so far that his first priority is to get the most out of his current batch of players but one position’s fate is out of his control.
That position, of course, is left-sided wing-back, which has been a revolving door of contenders for the last two years since Luke Shaw stopped being a fixture after Erik ten Hag’s first season.
Since then, as many as nine players have appeared in that position, extensively or in cameos and under Ruben Amorim, even though the nature of the role and position itself has changed, the auditions haven’t.
Luke Shaw’s latest injury has once again thrown a spanner into the works at Old Trafford and even though Amorim has backed Shaw to return stronger, the reality is that United need a reliable face in his position.
The recent developments on Theo Hernandez, therefore, come as a big boost to Ruben Amorim.
Theo Hernandez Man Utd transfer situation
With Amorim bringing an attack-minded wing-back position to Old Trafford, the need for a dynamic presence who can run up and down the wing for 90 minutes has become urgent.
Hernandez fits the profile perfectly and at 27, is reaching his peak years, having established himself as a bonafide world-class player in his position at AC Milan.
However, his contract now expires in 2026 and that is where United sense an opportunity for Theo Hernandez’s transfer on the cheap.
Those plans have received a big boost as Italian outlet Calciomercato report that Hernandez’s contract extension is far from a done deal.
It is in peril as there is a huge gap between what Hernandez is asking for in wages and how Milan can fit him into their current structure which is leading to an impasse at the time of writing.
Amorim has already asked for a new left wing-back so that development combined with this news means they might push Hernandez ahead of Alphonso Davies on their shortlist.
Milos Kerkez of Bournemouth is also a target but the Premier League tax might put off United from making a move, like with Jarrad Branthwaite last summer.
Perfect Luke Shaw replacement
As devastating as the recent injury news is for Shaw, United have to make a business decision and move on from him by treating him as a bonus squad player when he’s available.
In many ways, Theo Hernandez is what Shaw would have been had injuries not taken away the prime of his career.
He is an attacking left-back in the truest sense of the word, sitting north of the 90th percentile in shots/game, progressive carries, pass completion, and shot-creating actions/90.
Tyrell Malacia made a good return to league action against Arsenal but it’s clear that his ceiling is as a dependable squad option and he has lost some of the explosiveness that he had pre-injury.
WIth Harry Amass waiting in the wings for a breakout, Hernandez, at 27, provides the perfect mentor for Amass to learn from since he’s similar to what the Frenchman was at his age.
The age is also perfect where Hernandez can become the bridge for Amass to transition into a backup option first and then take over the first-team spot if his development remains on track.
United can give him exactly what he wants since, even though Ineos are preaching financial responsibility, United’s wage structure is far above what Milan can offer him.
Paying good money to a player of that pedigree is a no-brainer, especially since the transfer fee figures to be palatable due to his contract situation.
This one is definitely something to keep a close eye on for the transfer window next summer.
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