Lucas Hernandez had a good game for Atletico Madrid at the weekend, as they drew 1-1 against Barcelona.
Atleti, playing at home, must have thought they had a good chance of all three points after Diego Costa put them ahead on 77 minutes, but Ousmane Dembele quietened his Catalan critics as he scored a goal at the death to rescue a point.
Hernandez was playing as a left sided central defender, and Marca explain that’s where the Frenchman sees himself going forward. Playing mostly for Atletico, and the French national team, as a left back, the 22 year old is looking to develop more centrally.
Marca say this is bringing interest in the market, with the only clubs mentioned being Manchester United and Manchester City.
Those are the two ‘showing more interest’ in the signing ‘in recent times’. Both have been linked previously over the past few months, but then the slant on the move was as a left back.
With Luke Shaw enjoying a better season under Jose Mourinho, and Pep Guardiola having Benjamin Mendy, even if injured again, and other options, paying the player’s €80m clause didn’t seem to make perfect sense.
However, Marca say the €80m price is ‘more than accessible’ for both Manchester clubs, and Hernandez is described as ‘a central (defender) who is already a leader’.
Right now, City have more options in central defence than at left back, so the move would make even less sense for them than previously, but it’s different over at United.
Let the rumours begin.
