According to the latest reports from Portuguese media outlet Record, Sporting Lisbon captain Bruno Fernandes is set to move to Tottenham after snubbing the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool. United and Spurs were the only teams that made a meaningful offer for the attacking midfielder, and if reports from Portugal are to be believed, then Spurs have won the race for Fernandes.
This should come as a massive news for the club as the Portuguese international has been one of the most sought after players in the last few months. And why he wouldn’t be after his performance last season where he managed 32 goals from midfield and also grabbed 12 assists to his name.
Spurs beating the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City in the transfer market would have been unimaginable a few years back, but Mauricio Pochettino’s effect has changed the dynamics in the last few seasons.
United missed out on Champions League football, and that is the primary reason in our opinion why Spurs managed to beat them as the Red Devils reportedly showed a real intent to sign Fernandes.
Why Pochettino needed Fernandes?
Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen recently announced that he is looking for a new challenge and he is likely to leave the club in the summer. Eriksen can be termed as one of the best playmakers in the Premier League as he was often crucial in Pochettino’s setup. Whether it was finding the right ball or opening up defences or chipping in with odd goals now and then, Eriksen often rescued his side on numerous occasions.
What will Fernandes add to Spurs’ lineup?
Fernandes should slot in well as Eriksen’s replacement, and there are no better playmakers around after the campaign which the Portuguese had last season. The 24-year-old is blessed with decent pace and dribbling skills, which allows him to get out of tight spaces. But what makes him a standout option is his ability to finish off moves and find the right ball in the attacking third. Fernandes is a smart operator, and he comes alive when he receives the ball in between the midfield and defence lines.
His scoring record suggests that he is as good as any striker in front of goal. He might not be able to produce similar numbers in the much tougher Premier League, but even if he comes manages to score half the goals of last season, he would have done his job. The future of Pochettino has been uncertain for some time, but signings like this should reassure him to stay at the club and Spurs can look to build on from here after their impressive Champions League run.
