Burnley, Granada 'want Manchester United's Alvaro Fernandez'

The 20-year-old is yet to make a competitive appearance for the Red Devils since switching to Old Trafford from Real Madrid in 2020, however the defender did get his first experience of first-team football last term.

Fernandez was sent out on loan to Championship side Preston North End, appearing in 39 second-tier matches and providing four assists for teammates as the Lilywhites finished 12th under Ryan Lowe.

The youngster has relative international pedigree under his belt, having been selected for camps with Spain Under-19s, with United believing he could be a regular for their senior side in the future.

According to The Mirror, Burnley and Granada are among a host of teams interested in the signing of Fernandez for the 2023-24 term, with the former making a return to the Premier League following a one-year absence.

The report claims that the Clarets are less advanced than their Spanish counterparts in the hunt for the full-back's signature, although Vincent Kompany's men are still keen on the player.

Burnley are back in the top flight after cantering to the Championship title in the 2022-23 campaign, with Manchester City legend Kompany changing the style of football played at Turf Moor over the past year.

The report adds that Erik ten Hag's United believe that another temporary move elsewhere for the season would be best for Fernandez's development, despite the left-back earning minutes in pre-season.

The 20-year-old played the entirety of the Red Devils' 3-1 loss to League Two side Wrexham last month, before featuring for 64 minutes against Athletic Bilbao at Old Trafford on August 6.

Man United currently have England international Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia ahead of Fernandez in their left-back pecking order, meaning first-team opportunities are set to be limited if the defender remains in Manchester past September 1.

It is understood that Granada want an option to buy Fernandez permanently at the end of any potential loan period in La Liga - an arrangement United will likely disprove of considering they view him as a player who could develop into a first-team regular.

West Ham United, Espanyol, Las Palmas and Eintracht Frankfurt are also supposedly admirers of the full-back, meaning the likes of Burnley will have a battle on their hands to secure his services this summer.

Fernandez has one year left on his current terms at Old Trafford, with the club holding the option to extend his stay in Manchester by a further 12 months.

Kompany's Clarets started with right-back Vitinho in an unfamiliar left-wing-back role for their Premier League opener against Manchester City on August 11, and the top-flight newcomers have identified that position as an area where recruitment is needed.