Ruben Amorim decides to sign £42m Spanish star in January after Liverpool interest – report

Manchester United have had an underwhelming start to the campaign and they are presently 13th in the Premier League with 15 points on the board.

The club have also struggled in the Europa League with six points from four games. New manager Ruben Amorim will be aiming to turnaround the fortunes.

The Portuguese is likely to be backed with a small January transfer budget. Correio da Manha (page 27) claim that Amorim ‘wants to divert’ Alvaro Fernandez to United.

The left-back joined Benfica on loan from the Red Devils last winter and he went on to sign on a permanent basis for £5 million at the end of the campaign.

Fernandez has since established himself as a key player for the Portuguese giants. Amorim appears keen on re-signing him with the buy-back clause in his deal.

The Spanish ace can be signed by interested clubs for a release clause worth £42m, but United have the option to bring him back for £17m at the start of next year.

Correio da Manha say that Liverpool are also interested in the United graduate, but the Red Devils have the clear advantage due to the low buy-back option present.

Fernandez would be a solid acquisition for Amorim

The 21-year-old has exclusively played at left-back for Benfica, but he also impressed from the left wing-back position during his time with Preston North End on loan.

This season, Fernandez has been brilliant on both ends of the pitch for Benfica. He has won 62 percent of his duels per outing with an average of 2.2 tackles and five recoveries.

Fernandez has registered 28 passes in the opposition half per league game. He has also chipped in with two goals and two assists in his 16 appearances in all competitions.

Amorim could see him as an ideal solution for the left wing-back role ahead of the likes of Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia who are injury prone. Shaw could be offloaded by next summer.

The 39-year-old tactician could also consider Fernandez as an option in his three-man defence. He could play as the left-sided centre-back when Lisandro Martinez requires a breather.

At £17m, he would represent a terrific piece of signing for United this winter.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com