According to a recent report by TZ.de, Manchester City have been offered a chance to sign Bayern Munich defender Lucas Hernandez as part of the deal that would see Leroy Sane move in the other direction this summer. The same source has also mentioned that the Citizens are refusing to lower their valuation for Sane which could be why the Bavarian giants are hoping to use Hernandez as a makeweight in a potential deal during the summer transfer period.
Hernadez’s Injury-Ravaged Season In German Football
The French centre-back has endured a frustrating season at the Allianz Arena after being plagued by a series of unfortunate injuries. He has only made 17 appearances for Bayern this term, picking up three yellow cards while receiving 888 minutes of playing time across all competitions. A serious ankle injury has kept him out for a significant chunk of this campaign which has hampered his progress in Germany.
The 24-year-old is yet to score or assist a goal for his current employers this season but has averaged 1.1 tackles, 0.9 interceptions and 0.9 clearances per game in the Bundesliga so far. To his credit, Hernandez had completed 88.2% of his attempted passes in league football before he picked up another injury against Fortuna Dusseldorf this weekend (stats via whoscored).
The Marseille-born talent has earned 17 senior caps for the French national side but is still waiting to open his goal-scoring account for his country. Maybe a change of scenery this summer could help him make a fresh start and rediscover his old form so that he can secure a place in Didier Deschamps’ squad for next year’s UEFA European Championship finals following the competition’s postponement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Are The French Defensive Ace’s Best Attributes?
Hernandez has primarily been deployed as a centre-back by Bayern boss Hans-Dieter Flick, but he is highly versatile and can fill in as a left-back if required. He has decent pace in his locker that allows him to cover a lot of ground inside his own half. The Frenchman showcases excellent defensive awareness and is a terrific tackler as well, which enables him to earn possession back for his team. He is also a tireless worker who can use his upper-body strength to out-muscle the opposition in the air.
However, there are some question marks over Hernandez’s long-term health mainly because of his injury-ridden spell at Bavaria this term. Similar to the French international, Sane has also endured his fair share of injuries in recent years. The German international has not featured for Man City since getting injured in the Community Shield win over Liverpool back in August last year. Therefore, both Man City and Bayern will be taking a gamble if they decide to swap players this summer.
Is Hernandez The Right Choice For Guardiola?
If Hernandez can stay injury-free, then he has the potential to break out as a world-class player in his position someday. So if Pep Guardiola fails to convince Sane to stay beyond this summer, then the Etihad head coach should consider taking Hernandez as part of the deal involving Sane. The Frenchman is a top defender who is about to embark upon the prime years of his playing career.
Barring his poor injury record, Hernandez will be an excellent choice for the Citizens as he will not only add a lot of quality to Guardiola’s backline but also enhance the overall depth of his squad. His incredible versatility means that he would be able to provide some much-needed cover for both the centre-back and left-back positions which is something that the Mancunian outfit are in dire need of addressing in this off-season.
