Bruno Fernandes is usually described as Manchester United’s greatest participant within the post-Sir Alex Ferguson period and a shining gentle in darkish and tough instances at Outdated Trafford.
Whereas that view is correct, it in all probability does not do Portugal justice, because the 31-year-old was arguably one among United’s best gamers of any period, and such was his lasting, talismanic affect.
The likes of Roy Keane could also be amongst those that repeatedly level out the playmaker’s lack of elite expertise, however Fernandes couldn’t have accomplished extra to affect the best way the sport performed out in Manchester, having memorably dragged Ruben Amorim’s facet to the Europa League closing final season.
Having scored 38 objectives and offered assists in all competitions within the 2024/25 season, he contributed an extra 29 objectives this time round, however no participant has but come near reaching that stage for the reason that midfielder arrived in 2020.
However is that about to vary this summer time?
Manchester United contemplating signing £40m celebrity this summer time
It is maybe no shock that Fernandes’ record-breaking help exercise has begun after three promising forwards – Matheus Cunha, Brian Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesco – settled nicely at Outdated Trafford final summer time.
The trio have all achieved double-digit goalscoring objectives within the Premier League, making it the primary time a Premier League membership has had three new gamers attain that concentrate on since Arsenal in 2012-13.
The progress has been spectacular, though provided that no United participant reached 10 objectives within the league final season, extra is certainly wanted for the 2026/27 season and the return of Champions League soccer.
Manchester United – PL high scorer | ||
|---|---|---|
season | participant | the objective |
25/26 | Sesco | 11 |
24/25 | Amado Fernandez | 8 |
23/24 | Fernandez, Hoylund | 10 |
22/23 | rashford | 17 |
21/22 | ronaldo | 18 |
20/21 | Fernandez | 18 |
19/20 | Rashford, Martial | 17 |
18/19 | pogba | 13 |
17/18 | Lukaku | 16 |
16/17 | ibrahimovic | 17 |
With that in thoughts, CaughtOffside reported that INEOS are already trying to signal AC Milan star Rafael Leao, with the Serie A facet now extra “open” than earlier than to gives for the Portuguese winger.
United are stated to be considering a player-and-cash deal for the 26-year-old, with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Joshua Zirkzee and Manuel Ugarte doubtlessly on the best way, in response to stories.
This might assist decrease the signing charge for the participant, who boasts a €175m (£153m) launch clause in his present contract, though earlier stories instructed Milan may get a determine nearer to £40m.
Why Leo may very well be the perfect participant since Fernandes
Sunday’s win towards Nottingham Forest not solely noticed Fernandes stage with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne with 20 assists, however it was additionally a becoming farewell for an emotional Casemiro. The Brazilian was maybe the membership’s greatest signing for the reason that captain himself arrived six years in the past.
No participant signed since 2020 has made as a lot of an enduring affect because the 34-year-old, however Casemiro’s 26 objectives as a brand new signing in that interval are solely surpassed by Cristiano Ronaldo’s 27, tied with Rasmus Hjøjlund and Alejandro Garnacho.
Within the view of analyst and Como Scout Ben Mattinson, Leo has the potential to buck that pattern, reminiscent of his present standing as “among the finest leftists on this planet”, however it have to be stated that there are few success tales.
Leo, who was dubbed a “monster” by Premier League panel member Raj Chauhan, has struggled in Italy, however his file speaks for itself, with common objectives and assists on the San Siro.
Though he is probably not at Fernandes’ stage, his statistical consistency is notable, with him scoring and helping 114 objectives in 226 Serie A video games.
For the reason that begin of the 2021/22 season, he has scored at the least eight objectives in every league marketing campaign, and earlier than this season he had reached 10 assists in every of the final 4 seasons in Serie A.
For somebody who is just not a full-fledged striker and has usually been used on the left, the previous Lille speedster may doubtlessly be the answer on the left that the likes of Michael Carrick covet, which might be a powerful learn.
With Cunha being traded nearer to quantity 10 and Patrick Dorg doubtlessly transferring again to left-back, there’s a rising want so as to add a long-term strongman to that facet.
Bringing Leo into the squad may very well be a dramatic improve, much like transferring the quantity 10 function from the likes of Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira to Fernandes.
The present United captain instantly gave it his all at Outdated Trafford and hasn’t appeared again since. Even when INEOS closes out a deal this summer time, why cannot his compatriots do the identical?
He is like prime Pogba: Man United line-up strikes to signal £80m England star
Manchester United may make an enormous splash with the England worldwide this summer time.
