Manchester United had the ideal left back but now cannot afford him in the transfer window

The process of selling Alvaro Fernandez was "perfect", according to Erik ten Hag. Palaver would be a more appropriate description.

Manchester United sold a fit left back without playing him who is now playing in the same league Ruben Amorim coached in. Meanwhile, United effectively still have no left back.

Tyrell Malacia has been substituted in three of his four starts and was omitted from the squad against Wolves on Boxing Day. It has been 319 days since Luke Shaw last started a club game.

And then there is Fernandez, United's first summer sale. He has started in all six of Benfica's Champions League matches and in 13 of their 16 league games.

That United never granted Fernandez a debut was a travesty. Brandon Williams played ahead of him during the 2023 pre-season tour even though he had been informed by then-football director John Murtough he was for sale. United never got a penny for the released Williams.

Fernandez received Preston's young player of the year award during his season on loan at Deepdale in 2022-23. Malacia then suffered the knee injury that kept him sidelined for 550 days. Shaw predictably broke down after two games. Opportunity knocks.

Instead, Fernandez was knocked back. United preferred to recruit the 11th-hour loanee Sergio Reguilon, one of the club's worst left backs in living memory. Fernandez was loaned to Granada on the same day.

Shaw has been available for three games this season while Malacia came back in November. Right backs Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot have been run into the ground and their form has suffered.

Ten Hag's judgement at left back was often awry. Buying Malacia, loaning Reguilon, selling Fernandez, playing Victor Lindelof and Sofyan Amrabat there, starting Harry Amass in