Manchester United’s ‘future £100m’ star could be the perfect replacement for Fernandes

If that is the top for Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United, will probably be his exit in type.

The 31-year-old, whose future is unsure heading into the summer season, has as soon as once more returned to his spectacular private finest on this quantity 10 function, with six assists in his final 5 league and cup video games.

It isn’t just like the Portuguese star has slowed down earlier than, however his need to stay with a 3-4-2-1 and slot Fernandes deep into midfield appears to have made Ruben Amorim look fairly silly.

When this crew wants a second of magic, the captain steps up, whether or not it is his delightfully creative help in stoppage time towards Fulham, his beautiful shot for Harry Maguire at Anfield or his highly effective free-kick to equalize towards Bournemouth.

This man is working like a grasp, as he has for a lot of the previous six years, however for a way lengthy?

Why Manchester United wants to provide Fernandes a brand new contract

On a facet be aware, there could have been some at Outdated Trafford, each within the crowd and at board degree, who had been open to signing Fernandes over the summer season, with the playmaker closing in on a possible £100m transfer to Al Hilal.

Whereas this was undoubtedly a pretty value for a participant getting into his 30s, there was additionally a thorny query mark over whether or not his compatriot would truly be an excellent match for Amorim’s system.

Fortunately, Amorim is by all accounts essential in protecting Fernandes within the squad, and rightly so, with the United captain already displaying his affect this season with 12 assists within the Premier League.

His fixed presence was a relentless, as was the nagging intrigue of what this crew could be with out him.

Now, his final three recreation absences confirmed that the Crimson Devils specifically had been being pushed by each Wolverhampton Wanderers and Leeds United, and appeared to be missing concepts in each of the 1-1 stalemates.

That is Fernandes’ crew and regardless of the large investments in the summertime, he ought to keep and the INEOS regime must ignore funds and provides the midfield a brand new contract extension.

Maybe the participant himself would urge him to go away regardless, with solely 18 months left on his contract, but when he is being made to really feel beloved and appreciated, why would he need to go elsewhere?

That mentioned, if final summer season is any indication, INEOS won’t be afraid to be ruthless if they need and can hand over the duty of changing him to a brand new everlasting coach.

Manchester United could have already got a substitute for wildcard Fernandes

The apparent and most instant substitute for Fernandes within the present squad could also be Mason Mount, however the 27-year-old’s future ought to be beneath risk after three injury-plagued seasons at Outdated Trafford.

Matheus Cunha can be a maverick like Fernandes and boasts match-winning qualities, however maybe lacks the true management as a central participant, though a lot of his finest work up to now has come from the left flank beneath each Amorim and Michael Carrick.

With the signing of at the very least two new holding midfielders, the wild card candidate to fill the captaincy void is more likely to be younger Koby Mainu, with the 20-year-old displaying glimpses of why he may become a better slot.

Certainly, Carrick has beforehand considered the England worldwide as extra of an “attacker” than a deep midfielder, suggesting the academy product has the power to run the sport in Fernandes’ type.

There isn’t any query that Mainu must be extra artistic after failing to create a single “large probability” in his restricted enjoying time this season, however he actually has the instruments to take action.

Towards Fulham, for instance, United’s future “£100m-plus footballer”, as author Alex Turk raved, supplied a glimpse of his skills in that division when he fired a shocking Fernandes-esque ball excessive that nearly discovered the advancing Brian Mbeumo.

Within the earlier win over Arsenal, Mainu confirmed why he and Fernandes had been virtually on a distinct wavelength than their colleagues, linking up brilliantly within the build-up to Cunha’s beautiful late aim.

Whereas not blessed with the velocity or mobility of Fernandes, Mainu does have actual management, dropping the ball on common solely 4.3 instances per recreation this season.

Equally, in an period when Fernandes’ magic reigned supreme, maybe the larger moments got here from Mainou’s boots, whether or not it was that last-gasp roller at Molineux, the clincher within the FA Cup ultimate or the decisive strike in final season’s thriller at Lyon.

Throw into the combination the teenager’s spectacular efficiency towards Liverpool in 2023-24, and he has amassed fairly a catalog, additional proof of why unleashing him right into a quantity 10 function, or perhaps a extra superior midfield function, might be a masterstroke.

For a very long time, this crew has been Fernandes’ crew, but when he leaves, Mainu ought to be the subsequent long-term addition.