Erik ten Hag, the Manchester United manager, was determined to secure the signing of Sergio Reguilon despite the club’s executives considering the possibility of giving young talent Alvaro Fernandez an opportunity, as reported by The Athletic (via The Sun).
On the final day of the transfer window, Manchester United made three key additions to their squad. Altay Bayindir, the goalkeeper, arrived from Fenerbahce, Sofyan Amrabat, the midfielder, was acquired from Fiorentina, and Sergio Reguilon was signed from Tottenham.
The need for these signings arose due to a left-back crisis at Manchester United during the closing stages of the transfer window. Both Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia were sidelined with injuries, leaving the team without any experienced senior left-backs. Consequently, Alex Telles and Brandon Williams were allowed to leave on loan.
According to The Athletic, club officials at Manchester United were inclined to give promising youngster Alvaro Fernandez a chance to compete for the left-back position, given his impressive performances in the youth system.
However, Erik ten Hag disagreed with this approach, as he believed it was essential to bring in a left-back with Premier League experience to strengthen the position. The report indicates that initially, Manchester United targeted a loan move for Chelsea’s Marc Cucurella, but the deal fell through after he appeared in the Carabao Cup.
Ultimately, the Red Devils shifted their focus to Sergio Reguilon, considering it a more straightforward deal to complete. According to the report, Manchester United swiftly secured the signing of the Spanish left-back from Tottenham by agreeing to cover his full weekly wages of £115,000 without requiring a loan fee.
As a result of this decision, Alvaro Fernandez was allowed to proceed with his proposed loan move to Granada, and Erik ten Hag successfully acquired a left-back with Premier League experience when Sergio Reguilon joined Manchester United on deadline day.
In the previous season, Ten Hag heavily relied on Luke Shaw, who played a crucial role in Manchester United’s success during the Dutch manager’s first year in charge. With both first-choice left-backs unavailable, Diogo Dalot had to fill in at left-back for recent matches, although he appeared uncomfortable in that role.
Erik ten Hag’s determination to sign Sergio Reguilon this summer was evident, even though the Spanish player has faced challenges since his move to Tottenham from Sevilla. It remains to be seen how the 26-year-old will perform at Manchester United.
