With Mason Mount coming to Old Trafford for a potential £60 million price tag, Manchester United has only made one acquisition so far during the transfer window.
Erik ten Hag will be eager to bolster his team as the start of the Premier League season approaches, and AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez may be a possible candidate.
Theo Hernandez—a potential target for Manchester United?
In order to strengthen his defensive options for the 2023–24 season, Ten Hag is said to be keen on luring the Frenchman to Manchester, according to sources in Spain.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), the left-back’s name first came up in links last month. Milan demanded a “sensational” offer before they would consider letting one of their prized assets leave the team this summer.
It’s possible that the Red Devils’ willingness to pay about €60 million (£51 million) for his services will be enough to persuade the Serie A team to make a sale during the transfer window.
What might Theo Hernandez have to offer Manchester United?
The 25-year-old would be a great addition to the United team, especially since he can provide a significant attacking threat from left-back.
The defender finished 0.6 successful dribbles per game, ranking him as the second-highest defender in the entire Red Devils squad, and made 1.2 key passes per game in Serie A last season, placing him fourth in the United squad. These statistics suggest that he could offer something different to the club’s current crop of defenders.
If Ten Hag is successful in his pursuit of Hernandez, he would be acquiring one of the best attacking full-backs on the continent. According to FBref, Hernandez ranks in the top 11% of all players in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive carries per 90 minutes (3.37) and for total shots per 90 minutes (1.48).
Marcus Rashford in particular, who he may team up with down the left side of the pitch next season, will benefit from this as well as the United team as a whole.
With 41 goal contributions – 30 goals and 11 assists – across all competitions while typically playing on the left wing, the Englishman has certainly been revitalised under Ten Hag. This is his most productive season since making his United debut in 2016.
Given that the Dutchman is actively seeking a replacement for the striker, Rashford might continue to play wide, and Hernandez might use his skills to open up a tonne more opportunities for him. Given that the United forward has scored 15 of his league-high 17 goals from inside the penalty area and that WhoScored lists crossing as one of his key strengths, the Frenchman’s routine passes may find their way to him.
The defender received high marks from Stefano Pioli in 2021, who said of him: “He can play both phases very well; with his physical abilities it is enough to stay in the game. He has a good chance of becoming among the best.
“Even though he has only been playing for a year and a half, I constantly remind him that he should strive to be even better than he already is.
He must demonstrate his desire to improve every day despite having extraordinary physical strength and quality.
Although £51 million may seem like a lot, Ten Hag’s attacking skills and the possibility that he could become Marcus Rashford’s ideal partner suggest that it might be worthwhile to make the move this summer.
