One of the biggest talking points of the English transfer deadline day this year was the sensationally speculative bid by Manchester United for Atlético Madrid skipper Diego Godin.
A furious hour of headline bashing came to naught as it was ultimately a move for the Uruguayan centre-back to orchestrate another contract with Los Rojiblancos, with his tenure at the Wanda Metropolitano now extended for another two years until the end of 2021/22 season.
Whilst many would think this pure manipulation of one of the most respected teams in world football would hinder future progress and tentative negotiations with the 2017/18 La Liga runners-up by Manchester United, instead it has been reported today that the 13-time Premier League champions will make a move- not for Godin- but for young defender and France international Lucas Hernández.
As is now typical, the Frenchman wouldn’t come cheap. Atlético Madrid have both tied him down to a new long-term contract until 2024, as well has sliding in a humongous £72million release clause.
According to France Football, and a story which has been picked up on by The Daily Star, Manchester United wouldn’t be afraid to enter the market for the 22 year-old who has risen up through the Atlético ranks and made close to a century of performances for the club since his La Liga debut in the 2014/15 season.
United’s more favourable position if they are to make a move would come from the fact that Atlético would be hesitant to sell to an immediate domestic rival, and extremely reluctant to provide fierce cross-city rival Real Madrid - who are also said to be distinctly interested - with one of their youngest and most talented assets.
Hernández is an extremely versatile player who can play either at left-back - as he currently does for club and country - or in the heart of defence.
One of the stand-out players so far for the Red Devils has been Luke Shaw, who has resuscitated his own career with some man of the match performances in Utd’s first four games of the new Premier League campaign, and been rewarded with a call-up to Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
Therefore, currently, it would be unlikely that Shaw would be shunted out to accommodate Hernández should he arrive in January has been and instead United will seemingly be looking to solidify a shaky central defence which may see any of Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelöf, and now even Eric Bailly make way.
This is a move that is likely to roll on and roll until the transfer window reopens, but it is particularly intriguing that United could approach a club with whom they so recently suffered disappointment with.