Manchester United are reportedly considering making a mega money move for World Cup winner Lucas Hernandez in the January window.
As per reports from Spanish outlet Marca (h/t Metro), Manchester United are set to make an attempt to sign Atletico Madrid star Lucas Hernandez in the winter transfer window.
Manchester United have endured a difficult start to the season, with their defence struggling big time. The Red Devils, in their 8 league matches, have shipped in 14 goals in total. Only Cardiff City (17), Huddersfield Town (17) and Fulham (21) have conceded more goals in the top-flight this term.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho has been desperately trying to sign a centre-back since the summer transfer window, but the club failed to land any of his targets. The Red Devils were linked with the likes of Toby Alderweireld, Harry Maguire, Jerome Boateng as well as Atleti’s Diego Godin, but none of the transfers materialized.
The Portuguese finds himself under intense pressure to turn things around following the dismal start to the 2018-19 campaign and is believed to be keen on strengthening his backline in the January transfer window.
There had been reports of Mourinho wanting the club to sanction moves for Serie A duo Alessio Romagnoli and Milan Skriniar. But, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss seems to have turned his attention towards France international Hernandez.
The 22-year-old came through Atleti’s youth ranks and broke into the first-team in 2014 and has gone onto establish himself as one of Diego Simeone’s trusted lieutenants ever since. Hernandez has gone on to make 95 appearances for Los Rojiblancos, seven of which have come in the 2018-19 season.
The versatile defender has won the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup with Atletico and was an integral part of the France team that lifted the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Able to play as a centre-back or as a left-back, Hernandez recently signed a new contract with the Spanish capital club, extending his stay at the Wanda Metropolitano till the summer of 2024.
However, it is believed that the 22-year-old’s contract has a release clause of £70 million (€80 million), which Manchester United are more than happy to trigger. The report from Marca also claims that the Premier League heavyweights are willing to double Hernandez’s current wages, in order to lure him to Old Trafford in the winter transfer window.
Hernandez was linked with a move to Atletico’s local rivals Real Madrid in the summer, but the 14-time capped France international rejected their advances, reiterating his wishes to stay with the Rojiblancos.
However, Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho, who was recently spotted scouting Serbian midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, is reportedly confident of convincing the Frenchman to move to England, having failed to do so with his teammate Godin in the summer.
Hernandez has the potential to be a great addition to Manchester United, given his immense talents and the fact that he has gained so much experience at a very young age. However, it remains to be seen if the Red Devils follow up on the reported interest or decide to pursue alternate targets in January.
