Man Utd close in on Milan hotshot as Real Madrid pull out of race

Manchester United have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of Theo Hernandez, with Real Madrid pulling out of the race.

According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, Real have identified other priorities in the transfer market, clearing the path for United to swoop for the highly-rated Milan defender.

Hernandez, known for his marauding runs down the flank and impressive attacking output, has been a key player for Milan in recent seasons.

With five goals and six assists in their Serie A title-winning campaign in 2021/22, Hernandez has established himself as one of the most exciting left-backs in European football.

His attacking prowess, coupled with his defensive solidity, makes him an ideal fit for Ruben Amorim's system at Old Trafford, where he could be deployed as a wing-back in a back five.

"Hernandez is valued at €50million (£41.6m/$52.5m) and it’s believed joining an ambitious project like the one at Old Trafford ‘could be attractive’ to Hernandez," the report states.

United have identified left-back as a key area for improvement this January.

Tyrell Malacia, who endured a frustrating injury-plagued campaign last season, has only recently returned to fitness.

Meanwhile, Luke Shaw, despite his undoubted talent, has struggled with consistent availability and has yet to play a full 90 minutes this season.

Hernandez, by contrast, is a model of consistency. He has played at least 32 Serie A games in each of his five seasons at Milan, offering the kind of reliability that has been sorely lacking in United's backline.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rJHYUV2Impo?si=IhezsvZxdsCCXNnS" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>

United are also exploring other options at left-back. TEAMtalk can confirm that the club has opened talks with Girona to sign their highly-rated youngster, Miguel Gutierrez.

The Spanish side are open to a sale, with Gutierrez eager to move to a bigger club.

Furthermore, United are considering re-signing Alvaro Fernandez Carreras, the talented left-back who currently plies his trade in La Liga.

The club retains a buyback clause in his contract and could see him as a potential solution to their defensive woes.

Amidst the transfer speculation, Marcus Rashford has been the subject of intense scrutiny.

It is understood that United would be willing to accept a bid of just £40million for the forward.

And now, a controversial claim has emerged, with sources suggesting that Rashford "would fare better" at Arsenal than at Old Trafford.

The forward has struggled to recapture his best form in recent seasons and has been linked with a move away from the club.

The January transfer window promises to be a busy one for Manchester United as they seek to address their defensive deficiencies and rebuild a squad capable of challenging for major honors.