Manchester United have reportedly acted to address their defensive issues by contacting a free agent, following injuries to key players Luke Shaw and Leny Yoro. Recently, it was confirmed that Leny Yoro, a summer signing, had surgery for a fractured metatarsal in his left foot, which he sustained during a pre-season match against Arsenal. The 18-year-old center-back, who joined from Lille last month, is expected to be out for about three months.
Manager Erik ten Hag is dealing with several injury issues within his squad. Striker Rasmus Hojlund is sidelined with an injury from pre-season that will keep him out for a few weeks. As United prepares for their Community Shield match against Manchester City, ten Hag has indicated that several players might be unavailable.
“Harry Maguire missed the game against Liverpool as a precaution, but he’s still uncertain for Saturday’s match,” ten Hag said. “We need to assess his fitness to see if he’ll be available.”
Ten Hag also mentioned that Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, and Luke Shaw are potential doubts for the fixture. “We’ll evaluate their conditions tomorrow [Friday],” he added.
While ten Hag did not provide a detailed update on Shaw’s condition, recent reports suggest that Manchester United might be looking to strengthen their defense. Máximo de la Cruz Ramírez has indicated that the club is in talks with Mario Hermoso, a former Atlético Madrid defender who is currently a free agent.
Hermoso, a 29-year-old Spanish center-back who also played as a left-back under Diego Simeone, is reportedly seeking a gross annual salary of €6 million (£5.1 million) and a three-year contract. Ramírez mentioned that “negotiations are in the initial phase, and it remains to be seen how they will develop.”
During his five-year tenure with Atletico Madrid, Hermoso made 174 appearances and was part of the squad that won the La Liga title in the 2020/21 season, during which Atletico conceded just 25 league goals and Hermoso played in 31 matches.
Since his contract with Atletico expired in June, Hermoso’s representatives have reportedly offered him to other Premier League clubs, including Aston Villa and West Ham, according to AreaNapoli.
With Manchester United facing a significant defensive crisis due to injuries, the club is considering signing Hermoso. His experience and versatility could be crucial during this challenging period. However, with interest from other Premier League teams, United may need to move quickly to secure him.