Manchester United are once again grappling with a left-back crisis, a recurring problem in recent years. Luke Shaw is out with an unspecified injury, and Tyrell Malacia, who recently returned after a lengthy absence, has struggled to regain his form.
In the recent 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, Malacia was substituted at halftime after a difficult performance, during which he had trouble defending against Justin Kluivert, who won and converted a penalty for Bournemouth’s second goal. This led some fans to call for Malacia to be permanently excluded from the team.
The situation is worsened by Diogo Dalot’s inconsistent performances and manager Ruben Amorim’s preference for a system featuring three central defenders and two wing-backs. Unfortunately, United currently lack suitable players for these wide roles, with Noussair Mazraoui being the closest option, though he is more comfortable on the right than the left.
United Set Sights on Theo Hernandez
To address their left-back dilemma, Manchester United are reportedly planning a move for AC Milan’s Theo Hernandez. The 27-year-old French international, under contract with Milan until 2026, has recently fallen out of favor with manager Paolo Fonseca.
Hernandez was benched for Milan’s victory over Hellas Verona and did not play at all in the match against Genoa. According to MilanLive, Hernandez’s agent has met with the club, but contract negotiations have stalled, leading to increased speculation about his departure. MilanLive suggests there is a “very high” chance Hernandez will leave soon, and United are reportedly preparing to make a move to secure his signature.
Valued at £42 million, Hernandez is considered one of the best left-backs in the world and would be a major upgrade for United. He was recently praised by Milan legend Paolo Maldini, who Hernandez matched in September by scoring his 29th goal for the club—tying Maldini’s record for goals scored by a defender.
Hernandez celebrated the milestone on Instagram, writing: “Victory and 29 goals with Milan. Pleased to equal my idol, Paolo Maldini. Forza Milan.” Maldini humorously replied, “Grande Theo. The small difference is that I did it over 25 years; it took you just five! You are special.”
