Manchester United left-back Alex Telles has already hinted that he would be open to returning to former club FC Porto amid Tyrell Malacia's impending arrival at Old Trafford.
United, as revealed by the Manchester Evening News on Wednesday, are closing in on the signing of the Netherlands international after agreeing a deal with Feyenoord on Tuesday. It is understood that United have agreed to sign the 22-year-old for a fee of €15million (£12.9m).
United — who are also closing in on the signing of Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong — made a last-gasp move to hijack Lyon's move for Malacia, with the deal progressing at a rapid rate of knots. He will join the club subject to passing a medical once he is back off his summer holiday.
READ MORE: Manchester United agree deals to sign Frenkie de Jong and Tyrell Malacia
Malacia's move to Old Trafford will add further competition to battle for the left-back berth, with Luke Shaw, Brandon Williams, Alvaro Fernandez and Telles all aiming to impress manager Erik ten Hag over the course of pre-season. The Manchester Evening News understands that Shaw, despite Malacia's impending arrival, will remain United's first choice left-back, but the Dutchman will provide healthy competition for the England international.
That means, however, that it could spell bad news for Telles' career at Old Trafford. The Brazilian has largely been inconsistent since joining the club from Porto back in October 2020, racking up just 50 appearances.
He has failed to replicate the performance levels that earned him his move to M16. With that in mind, Malacia's arrival at the club is only likely to push him down the pecking order.
It throws his future into doubt as he would effectively become the club's third choice left-back. And should he be forced into considering his future and leaving United this summer, he has already hinted that a return to Porto may be something he would consider.
"FC Porto is a love story, it was the club I most identified with, it was four years there," Telles said, speaking on the Wibcast podcast earlier this year. "I identified with the city and made many friends, it has a special place in my heart.
"Besides, my best career numbers were there, what made me come to Manchester United was what I did for FC Porto. I was very well received.
"I am eternally grateful to the club and of course one day I think about going back there and continuing this cycle. It was a very happy period of my life."
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