According to A Bola, Tottenham Hotspur are still interested in the services of Bruno Fernandes. The Sporting CP playmaker was linked with a move to north London in the summer, but a move didn’t materialise. However, it seems the Lilywhites will once again try to lure Fernandes to the Premier League in January as they prepare for life without Christian Eriksen.
Fernandes: A one-season wonder?
Fernandes became one of the most sought-after playmakers in Europe after an incredible 2018/19 campaign that saw him score 32 goals in all competitions – making him the highest-scoring midfielder in the continent.
The 25-year-old also registered 18 assists, 13 of which came in LIGA NOS as he helped Sporting finish third in the league table. Moreover, Fernandes’ contributions in the final third were crucial in Portugal’s triumph in the inaugural UEFA Nations League, earlier this summer.
While a certain set of fans assumed that the Sporting captain was going to be a one-season wonder, Fernandes seems to have silenced those critics by replicating his performances in this new campaign.
Indeed, the Portuguese international has already been involved in eight goals in the league, which is a staggering 72% of Sporting’s goals this season. Therefore, Fernandes cannot be deemed as just a one-season wonder, although it remains to be seen whether or not he can continue his form throughout the rest of the campaign.
Does Tottenham really need Fernandes?
Tottenham Hotspur are experiencing a crisis at the moment, having had a miserable start to the campaign. But most importantly, they are expected to lose their star playmaker Christian Eriksen, who is being linked with a move away from north London.
Fernandes, to that end, could be an ideal replacement. Much like the Dane, the Sporting CP star is proficient from set-pieces and can craft goal-scoring opportunities for his team. Besides, he is also quite effective from long-range, which often becomes useful in the Premier League.
While Fernandes is not as effective in the link-up play as Eriksen, the Portuguese international can surely improve. Not to mention, he has a knack for scoring goals, which is rather evident if we see his scoring record from last season.
His prolific nature makes him an appealing target for Tottenham as they have often appeared over-reliant on the services of Harry Kane as far as goal scoring is concerned. Hence, the Lilywhites are right to rekindle their pursuit of Fernandes in January.
