Real Madrid target Alvaro Fernandez in move which offer boost to Man United’s finances | OneFootball

Manchester United could be set for a crucial financial boost from an unlikely source this summer ahead of a pivotal transfer window for the club.

Alvaro Carreras, 22, left Old Trafford last summer to join Benfica in on a permanent deal worth an initial £6 million after impressing on loan for the Portuguese side.

The fullback has gone from strength to strength this season with Os Encarnados neck and neck with Sporting CP at the top of Liga Portugal, both level on 79 points with one game to go. Benfica have only conceded 27 times in the league – again, level with Sporting – while scoring an impressive 83 goals.

Carreras has been an influential figure for his side in both boxes, scoring four goals and providing five assists from left-back, offering constant support to his teammates through well-timed overlapping or underlapping runs from deep.

The Spaniard was even linked with a move back to United in January as the Red Devils considered options to upgrade the vacant left wing-back position in Ruben Amorim’s squad. United retain a £16.8 million buy-back option in the deal which saw Carreras join Benfica, which made a reunion in January an attractive option given the club’s limited budget.

However, the Reds eventually settled on Lecce wing-back Patrick Dorgu, securing the Danish international in a deal worth a potential £30 million with the 20-year-old’s athleticism and physique making him stand out to Amorim.

But Carreras’ impressive form in Portugal has continued, putting the left-back high on the list of targets for Spain’s biggest clubs.

Both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are reported to be interested in the 22-year-old fullback with his technical ability lending itself perfectly to La Liga in a way the demands of the Premier League can often overlook.

Real Madrid complete the ‘big three’ of Spain in their admiration of Carreras but this has now received a fresh impetus following the confirmation of Xabi Alonso as Los Blancos’ new manager this summer.

Alonso utilises a 3-4-2-1 system with Bayer Leverkusen – similar to the one Amorim is seeking to implement at Old Trafford – which relies on technically gifted wing-backs to provide width to his side.

As such, a move for Carreras has “become one of the club’s priorities” because there are a lack of viable options for the position in the Madrid squad, according to Spanish outlet Marca.

The report states, “Carreras, 22, is a full-back with a long range, capable of providing depth on the wing and defensive work, qualities that fit perfectly into the five-man defensive line Xabi Alonso intends to implement in his new project. His ability to join the attack, his excellent ball-striking ability, and his speed have made him one of the sensations of the season in Portugal.”

A report relayed by The Peoples Person had suggested the Spanish club could look to use United’s “help” in signing Carreras as the Red Devils could trigger their buy-back option and then sell him directly to Madrid.

But Marca contends executives at the Santiago Bernabéu have ruled out this possibility and will seek to strike a “direct agreement” with Benfica. The reports states there is “concern” that United could still look to sign Carreras themselves, however.

This is unlikely as the Reds already opted for a different wing-back over Carreras in the previous window and the Spaniard is not believed to favour a return to England. Yet Carreras could still provide a major boost at Old Trafford without every setting foot in Manchester again.

A sell-on clause included in his sale entitles United to a percentage of any future transfer, meaning a £42 million move to Madrid – the price of Carreras’ release clause with Benfica – would filter down to the Red Devils. And with every penny counting at Old Trafford this summer, it would constitute a welcome addition to the club’s transfer kitty.

Feature image Carlos Rodrigues via Getty Images

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