As of now, Manchester United has only added one player to its roster during the transfer window, bringing Mason Mount to Old Trafford for a potential £60 million fee.

Erik ten Hag will be keen to add a few more players to his squad before the start of the Premier League season, and AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez may be a possibility.

Is Theo Hernandez a target for Manchester United?
Prior to the 2023–24 season, United are reportedly eager to entice the Frenchman to Manchester as Ten Hag looks to improve his defensive options.

According to Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness), initial links for the left-back first appeared last month. Milan demanded a “sensational” offer before agreeing to let one of their prized assets leave the club this summer.

The Red Devils are willing to pay about €60 million (£51 million) to sign him, which may be enough to persuade the Serie A team to make a sale during the transfer window.

What benefits might Theo Hernandez bring to Manchester United?
The 25-year-old would be a great addition to the United team, particularly because he could provide a significant attacking threat from left-back.

The defender finished 0.6 successful dribbles per game, which would place him as the second-highest defender in the entire Red Devils squad, and made 1.2 key passes per game in Serie A last season, which would place him fourth in the United squad, suggesting he could offer something different to the current crop of defenders at the club.

FBref ranks him in the top 5% for total shots per 90 (1.48) and the top 11% for progressive carries per 90 (3.37) among Europe’s top five leagues, providing additional evidence of his forward-thinking abilities. Should Ten Hag be successful in his pursuit of Hernandez, he would be acquiring one of the best attacking full-backs in the world.

This is not only good news for the entire United team, but also for Marcus Rashford in particular, with whom he may form a reliable left-side partnership in the upcoming campaign.

The Englishman has had his most productive season since making his United debut in 2016 under Ten Hag, contributing to 41 goals across all competitions while typically playing on the left wing, posting 30 goals and 11 assists.

Rashford might continue to play from a wide position as Hernandez could use his skills to create a lot more opportunities for him because the Dutchman is actively looking for a new striker. WhoScored lists crossing as one of his key strengths, and the United forward has scored 15 of his league-high 17 goals from inside the penalty area, so he might receive one of the Frenchman’s routine passes.

“He can play both phases very well, with his physical abilities it is enough to stay in the game,” Stefano Pioli gushed about the defender in 2021. He has a great chance of rising to the top.

“Even though he’s only been playing for a year and a half, I constantly remind him that he shouldn’t be content with just being talented.

He must consistently demonstrate his desire to be the best despite having extraordinary physical strength and quality.

Although £51 million may seem like a lot, given Ten Hag’s attacking skills and the possibility that he could become Marcus Rashford’s ideal partner, it might be a move worth making for Ten Hag this summer.