According to Metro, Manchester United are one step ahead of Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Bruno Fernandes. Both the clubs have offered identical personal terms to the Sporting CP midfielder, but the Red Devils could have the upper hand due to their “history and mystique”. That being said, United and Spurs are both yet to match Sporting’s hefty valuation of £62 million for Fernandes.
What can Bruno Fernandes bring to the table?
Fernandes has impressed the onlookers with his remarkable scoring statistics this past season. The Sporting captain was involved in as many as 50 goals in all competitions – making him the most productive central midfielder in Europe’s top seven leagues.
The Portuguese international is naturally known for his shooting prowess, having averaged a whopping 3.6 shots per game. 2.2 of those shots have come from outside the box, which is indicative of the threat he provides from long-range.
Aside from that, Fernandes is a skilled passer and is capable of threading in through balls in behind the defence. The 24-year-old averaged 3.2 key passes per game – a tally only bettered by Rodrigo Soares in Primeira Liga during the 2018/19 campaign.
But, what makes him such a sought-after midfielder in Europe is his set-piece prowess. Indeed, nine of his 20 goals in the league last term, came from either direct free-kicks or penalties.
Where does Fernandes fit into Manchester United?
Manchester United have recently extended the contract of Juan Mata. But, with the release of Ander Herrera, Fernandes’ addition to the club could be beneficial for Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer. The Portuguese international can be used as the lone attacking midfielder in a 4-1-3-2, with the likes of Daniel James and Juan Mata featuring in the two wider attacking roles.
The 24-year-old can also operate in the double pivot alongside a more robust figure of someone like Nemanja Matic or Scott McTominay.
Should Manchester United make a move for Fernandes?
As discussed earlier, Fernandes could be useful for Solskjaer from a tactical perspective. But, the Portuguese international’s hefty £62 million is a bit too expensive.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed an incredibly successful campaign, but there are doubts as to whether or not he will be able to integrate to the faster-paced nature of the Premier League. And with the Red Devils having made just one major signing so far, paying £62 million could financially cripple Solskjaer’s apparent plan of undergoing a significant squad overhaul this summer.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
