According to CM Journal, Tottenham Hotspur are tipped as the favourites to sign Bruno Fernandes. However, the Champions League finalists need to act swiftly, with Liverpool seemingly keen on making a move for the Sporting CP midfielder, who has been linked with a host of clubs across England this summer.
Liverpool’s interest could change the whole dynamic of Fernandes’ transfer saga, with the report also claiming that Spurs are appearing a little hesitant in signing the midfielder.
Fernandes’ excellent campaign with Sporting
Fernandes is currently one of the most sought-after midfielders in Europe this summer, thanks to an incredible campaign with Sporting CP. Indeed, he scored a whopping 20 goals in 33 league matches and registered 13 assists. The 24-year-old was also involved in as many as 50 goals in all competitions, which made him the most productive midfielder in Europe’s top seven leagues during the 2018/19 campaign.
Fernandes’ services in midfield and in front of goal helped Sporting finish third in the league table with 74 points on the board. It also helped the Leões win the Portuguese league cup as well as the domestic Super Cup. As a result, he was voted Sporting CP’s footballer of the year and rightly so.
What can Fernandes bring to the table?
Fernandes is mainly an attacking midfielder, whose vicious right-foot makes him relatively more productive than other playmakers. Indeed, the 24-year-old averaged an astonishing 3.6 shots per game, 2.2 of which have come from outside the box. His shooting prowess also makes him a threat from direct freekicks and penalties, with nine of his 20 goals coming from set-pieces.
Another key asset in Fernandes’ game is his excellent passing. The Portuguese international is proficient when it comes to picking out players in behind the defence. And this often proves useful when facing an opposition with a high backline or even during counter-attacking situations. He has notably averaged 3.2 key passes this past season.
Is Fernandes a good signing for Liverpool?
Fernandes will be an excellent addition to Liverpool. The Sporting CP skipper has the quality to improve the Reds’ overall dynamics in the creative department. Also, his excellent productivity means he can add more bite into the Liverpool attack that has already impressed in the past couple of seasons.
All the while, the Portuguese can also provide competition to Naby Keita and Georginio Wijnaldum in the advanced midfield role. And this could be very important for Liverpool, especially in such a long and congested schedule of English football, which makes team rotations almost a necessary thing for every manager.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored
