Manchester United set next Rooney as top target

£80 million plus was once enough to sign Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale at his peak, but now it’s the amount needed to sign Manchester United target Matheus Fernandes.

Of course, inflation is the key word here, but the way the market has distorted in recent times is truly astonishing, and United may have been wise not to get involved in the competition for the Portuguese youngster.

Instead, Fernandes will join Roberto De Zerbi’s new Tottenham Hotspur side, having already become the fifth player to join the north London side following last season’s relegation scare.

Michael Carrick’s side are now on firmer footing after a respectable third-place finish back at Old Trafford and there is no time to panic just yet. True, there are many more fish in the sea.

£130m World Cup star emerges as Manchester’s top target

£116m proved to be too much for Elliott Anderson, but INEOS were reluctant to pay that high fee for Fernandes as they had not received confirmation from either player that they actually wanted to move to Old Trafford.

It remains to be seen whether United will actually improve significantly this summer, as they have yet to surpass Paul Pogba’s club record signing of £89m, despite spending heavily over the past decade or so.

One area that could be in need of reinforcements is on the left, but a lot will depend on whether Marcus Rashford stays in Manchester beyond the loan deadline.

As revealed by Sky Sports, United could look to invest in a replacement if Rashford leaves, with Aston Villa’s Morgan Rodgers said to be a “top target”.

The England international previously praised Geordie, who worked under Carrick at Middlesbrough and described him as a “great manager” who played a key role in the 23-year-old’s development.

Although Villa are not keen on selling, there are further claims that a reunion could happen and could fetch up to £130m this summer.

Why Rodgers is a worthy investment for Manchester United

£130m seems like an eye-watering sum for another relatively young player, but if the Red Devils can get that down some in negotiations, bringing Rodgers to Old Trafford could be a smart move.

As well as having the benefit of having previously worked under Carrick, the Halesowen-born forward is an extremely exciting and versatile talent who is comfortable on the left or in a central role.

Rodgers, who was stripped of the Championship in January 2024, has occupied an almost talismanic position at Villa Park ever since, making 125 appearances for the club and already scoring up to 60 goals and assists.

His most recent contribution came in Villa’s final Europa League win over Freiburg, a crowning moment for Unai Emery’s side after consistent improvement in recent years.

Rodgers, formerly of Manchester City, is now part of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad, and there was serious debate before the tournament over whether he should start ahead of Jude Bellingham in the number 10 slot.

Bellingham clearly won that battle, but to be included in the conversation, especially with the likes of Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White all watching from home, says a lot about how talented Rodgers is.

What Tuchel clearly appreciates about Villaman’s play is how powerful he is, having previously been praised by manager Glenn Hoddle as being “like a young (Wayne) Rooney”.

As well as his ‘techniques’, there is an admirable, relentless physicality to his game that allows him to run up the pitch effectively.

Like the young Rooney, Rodgers boasts a comparable final result. United are learning a lesson after scoring twice in Villa’s 2-1 win over Ruben Amorim and co in December.

The estimated £130m ace stole the hosts’ attention twice, cutting in from the left and scoring into the far corner, sparking a hot night for young Lenny Yolo.

Last season’s total of 26 goals and assists in all competitions was actually only achieved by Bruno Fernandes, 31, back at Old Trafford, underscoring just how big a coup it would be to add him to the squad this summer.

What’s particularly impressive about his game is that he’s always on the lookout for killer passes and key attacking interventions, and his progressive pass completion rate per 90 ranks him in the top 14% of attacking midfielders and wingers in Europe’s top five leagues.

United often adore players who are willing to take risks to create openings, and players like Rooney and Fernandes are always looking for ways to hurt opponents, whether it’s a driving run or a cutting, defense-slicing pass.

Rodgers, only 23, is in a similar position. This could be the deal that INEOS needs to get the green light to enter the market in earnest.