According to reports from The Telegraph this morning, Manchester United are looking to jump ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign Southampton’s Nathaniel Clyne by offering misfit striker Javier Hernandez in a part-exchange deal.
The 24 year-old right-back has been in fantastic form this season, bagging two goals in 29 appearances as a near-ever present member of a Saints defence boasting the best goals conceded record in the Premier League, conceding just 22 in 32 games.
He’s also averaged the eighth-most tackles per match, 3.4, of any player in the division, and that combination has seen him emerge as Roy Hodgson’s first choice No.2 in the England fold, with four caps since his international debut in October.
Now entering the final year of his St. Mary’s contract, both Manchester United and Chelsea are keen on a deal for the former Crystal Palace youngster this summer, as claimed in a separate Telegraph report.
But Man United’s offer of Hernandez – who has scored just five goals in 23 appearances on loan at Real Madrid this term and is also on the verge of entering the final twelve months of his Red Devils deal – could give them the upper hand.
The Mexico international was linked with a Southampton move in the summer, as reported by The Daily Mail in August.
Whether Chelsea will respond with a more appealing offer or decide to switch to alternative targets remains to be seen.