According to Sky Sports Transfer Centre airing Tuesday night at 6:30 PM, reporters claimed Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes “prefers a move to Manchester United”. It is a huge claim after over 12 months of speculation that Fernades would join the Red Devils.
Despite reports that the midfielder will join the Old Trafford outfit, Barcelona are also linked with Fernandes. Sky Sports reports that Barcelona want to add the player and immediately loan him out to La Liga rivals Valencia. It is believed Fernandes does not want to be loaned out and that is one reason he favours signing for Manchester United.
BREAKING: Manchester United make increased offer of £46.6million plus add-ons for Sporting midfielder Bruno Fernandes
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 28, 2020
The Red Devils have increased their bid for Fernandes to £46.6 million. Based on stats, Fernandes is a player that has played well at Sporting Lisbon and could improve the team he joins. However, the big question is whether he can adapt to a league other than the Portuguese Liga.
Last season saw Benfica starlet Joao Felix garner an incredible amount of praise. It influenced Atletico Madrid to pay €126m for his transfer. Felix has struggled to live up to the price tag and has failed at Atletico Madrid. He has scored just four goals in 23 games in all competitions as the club has struggled to keep up with both Real Madrid and Barcelona in the league title race.
There is no guarantee Fernandes will be a success if he joins Manchester United in spite of his stats at Sporting Lisbon. The midfielder has scored eight goals and contributed seven assists in 17 Portuguese Liga appearances.
Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford leads Manchester United in league goals with 14. However, Rashford is out with a stress fracture in his back. The Red Devils’ Anthony Martial has scored eight times and is second on the team in goals. Meanwhile, Daniel James has six assists.
Bruno Fernandes’ stats fit in with the top attackers at Manchester United. His numbers would place him near the top of Manchester United’s Fantasy Premier League’s best performers. Rashford leads the club in FPL points with 134 while Martial is second with 93.
Barcelona have opened talks over a deal to sign Manchester United target Bruno Fernandes – with a view to loaning him straight to Valencia
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 28, 2020
Barcelona could disrupt Manchester United’s transfer for Fernandes. If the La Liga team changes their plans of loaning the midfielder out to Valencia, then perhaps he would agree to join the Camp Nou club.
Right now, it appears Sporting Lisbon and Bruno Fernandes’ agent, Jorge Mendes, are playing the clubs against themselves. Mendes has claimed Fernandes may not even leave the Portuguese club until the summer.
So, would Bruno Fernandes be a good FPL addition to your team? If he does join Manchester United, the midfielder could fail to adapt to life quickly in the much faster-paced Premier League when he has far less time on the ball.
