Manchester United were always going to be involved in some transfer business in January, and if recent reports are to be believed, they might have finally succeeded in landing Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese was involved in quite a bit of a transfer saga of late, having been linked with a move to Manchester United and Barcelona, but it seems Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will have the last laugh.
Fabrizio Romano has claimed that Fernandes’ move to Manchester United is done, and it’s only a matter of time before the midfielder is unveiled as a Manchester United player.
Bruno Fernandes – The solution
Manchester United’s attack desperately needs a bit of freshness, as their style is too predictable at the moment.
They have done well against the top six teams in the league because of their counter-attacking style, which suits their quick attackers and deep-lying playmakers who readily fit in the reactive approach.
Against teams they are expected to beat though – the mid-table and lower table sides – Solskjaer’s side have often struggled and have run into cul-de-sacs.
While the likes of Scott McTominay and Fred have done well in their central midfield roles, the trio of Andreas Pereira, Juan Mata, and Jesse Lingard have struggled to provide the creativity that the club’s forwards demand on a regular basis.
The numbers paint a sombre picture.
Pereira, Mata, and Lingard have managed just five assists in total so far this season in the Premier League. It’s no secret that the club were in dire need of someone like a Kevin De Bruyne or a James Maddison in the midfield to split open opposition defences.
Also read: Manchester United Could Take Another Punt On Attacking Star
No Manchester United player makes it into the list of top 10 players for chances created this season, and that is a telling sign.
Fernandes’ stats in the Liga NOS cannot be compared to the Premier League as the two competitions are very different, but it’s a start.
The Portuguese international has created 63 chances this season, which is the same as Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold – a player who is third in the list of most chances created in the Premier League this season.
Fernandes is expected to slot in behind the striker, and while his dribbling and passing will be crucial for the Red Devils in opening up teams, his goal-scoring will be equally key as the club will be without Marcus Rashford – their top-scorer – for some time.
It seems like the club are finally looking at specific problems and addressing them. But there is still a long way to go as Fernandes will need some time to acclimatise to the pace of the Premier League