Benfica are in talks to sign Alvaro Fernandez from Manchester United and according to the sources linked with the Reds in England, the player will be the first one transferred in the January window.
Alvaro Fernandez Carreras is a 2003 class and he is playing for Granada. He has also played for Spain U-21 and is one of the most promising talents in the future La Roja Team. Benfica has been interested in a left back since the departure of Alex Grimaldo to Bayer Leverkusen.
Alvaro plays in the midfield also and this flexibility means more options for Benfica and Roger Schmidt. They are playing with Morato, a center-back, which means that the club needs immediate reinforcement in that position.
Roger Schmidt has made clear that his team has all the qualities to make big steps ahead in Liga Portugal, despite their early elimination from the UEFA Champions League. They do not have a natural Left Back and this is a problem for the squad.
Player’s performance
On the other hand, there is Alvaro Carreras, who has played 13 matches in La Liga with Granada this season. Benfica should wait though till the end of the season to transfer him to Liga Portugal due to his loaning period in Spain.
But Rui Costa and Roger Schmidt are willing to wait and make this a permanent move. This would strengthen Benfica and make the club more competitive, especially in Europe, where they struggled this season.
The player has played one match in Copa del Rey and this also is good data for Benfica to use the defender in numerous fronts.
The defender can be a huge asset for the club and the team in a new moment for Benfica. What can change in the next season is a calculation for the club. He has already performed in high levels and despite Granada’s pledge to keep him, he will not be part of the club in the next season.
Benfica can profit from this situation and make the player theirs in a permanent deal.
