Erik ten Hag is facing a new challenge at Manchester United as he may have to finish the season without a senior left-back. Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia are both injured, while FIFA rules mean that Alvaro Fernandez can't be called back from his loan at Benfica.
Fernandez, who has previously played for Preston North End and Granada, was loaned to Benfica in January with an option for the Portuguese club to buy him.
But now, with Shaw and Malacia injured, United might wish they hadn't let him go. Because of FIFA rules around transfers, they can't bring Fernandez back to Old Trafford. READ MORE: What the new United structure means for the manager, players and staff READ MORE: Erik ten Hag might already know the answer to United's Luke Shaw problem Players can only play for two clubs in one season and Fernandez has already played for Granada and Benfica this year.
If certain conditions are met during his loan, Benfica will have to buy the 20-year-old. Even if those conditions aren't met, Benfica will still have the option to sign him permanently for a modest fee.