Real Madrid tipped to pursue AC Milan star who left Bernabeu in 2019 | OneFootball

Real Madrid are poised to bolster their left-back position this summer, with AC Milan star Theo Hernandez reportedly among the names they're considering.

Hernandez joined the Rossoneri from Madrid in 2019 and has blossomed into a star at San Siro. He's closing in on 200 Serie A appearances having only played 13 times in La Liga for Los Blancos. The left-back was part of Zinedine Zidane's 2017/18 Champions League-winning squad before opting for pastures new.

The French international has developed into one of the world's best at his position in Italy, and played a key role in Milan's Scudetto triumph under Stefano Pioli in 2021/22. Hernandez stuck up a deadly dynamic with maverick winger Rafael Leao during the club's pomp with Pioli at the helm, but the club have entered a period of indifference in the wake of their title success.

Hernandez struggled to see eye-to-eye with Pioli's successor, Paulo Fonseca, and hasn't quite returned to his dominant best since Fonseca was replaced with Sergio Conceicao.

Milan currently sit ninth in Serie A but could potentially add the Coppa Italia to their trophy haul this season after dramatically lifting the Supercoppa at the start of the year. Still, there are doubts over Hernandez's future.

Spanish outlet AS report that Real Madrid could take advantage of the left-back's contract situation and make a move for their former player this summer. Hernandez's current deal at Milan expires in 2026, and talks regarding an extension have failed to progress.

A summer of change beckons at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Carlo Ancelotti poised to move on and Florentino Perez in need of investing in several areas of the squad. At full-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold could emerge as Madrid's starting right-back next season, and Madrid are considering several options on the opposite side. While Ferland Mendy is a fine left-back when available, he has struggled with injury setbacks again this term, and there's a sense that the club can upgrade upon Fran Garcia.

After missing out on Alphonso Davies, who extended his contract at Bayern Munich, Madrid are reportedly monitoring Benfica's Alvaro Carreras, Girona's Miguel Gutierrez and Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez, in addition to Hernandez.