Former Preston North End loanee Alvaro Fernandez is on the verge of a big move as Benfica close in on signing the Manchester United talent.
PNE fans have been spoiled with the quality of some loan signings over recent years.
Daniel Iversen and Sepp van den Berg became fan favourites whilst Cameron Archer was absolutely lethal after joining from Aston Villa.
Tom Cannon joined Archer in that regard last season, featuring alongside Alvaro Fernandez as supporters desperately tried to remind themselves not to fall in love with loan players.
Manchester United loanee Fernandez certainly made that difficult and PNE fans could now see him join a major European club in the coming hours…
Former PNE ace Alvaro Fernandez closes in on Benfica transfer
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reports that Fernandez is now on the verge of signing for Portuguese giants Benfica.
It’s stated that an agreement is in place for Fernandez to join Benfica on loan with an option to buy at the end of the season.
A medical is now booked in with Fernandez poised to complete his move to Lisbon.
Fernandez has spent the first half of the season on loan at La Liga side Granada, making 13 appearances in Spain’s top flight.
Benfica are now swooping in and Fernandez has already posted a goodbye message to Granada on Instagram as he prepares to complete his next move.
There are real parallels between Fernandez and Alejandro Grimaldo, another Spanish left back who joined Benfica.
Grimaldo was struggling to break through at a European powerhouse in Barcelona, just like Fernandez at Manchester United.
Grimaldo joined Benfica and ended up becoming a star, racking up more than 300 appearances for the club before moving to Bayer Leverkusen last summer, where he is excelling.
Fernandez may well use Grimaldo as inspiration over in Portugal with his loan move now on the verge of completion.
North End’s left wing back slot has been a little muddled this season and fans would have loved to see Fernandez return.
It’s clear that Fernandez’s future is beyond PNE though and he will have gone from Deepdale to the Estadio da Luz in just a matter of months.
PNE supporters will be cheering Fernandez on as he makes this big move, with Fernandez immediately plunged into a title race as Benfica battle bitter rivals Sporting for top spot in Portugal.