It’s been a busy week for Manchester United. The Red Devils sacked Ruben Amorim on Monday, but a caretaker manager has yet to be named until the end of the season, with Darren Fletcher set to take charge for the time being.
Regardless of who takes charge at Old Trafford, one thing is certain: Amorim’s infamous 3-4-2-1 system will no longer be used. This means players are likely to have higher profile, with Bruno Fernandes seen playing as a number 10 in Fletcher’s first game as manager against Burnley, for example.
Still, it’s entirely possible that the United captain’s future will be called into question again this summer, although the team may be preparing his replacement.
Manchester United eyeing high-profile replacement for Fernandes
Fernandes’ future at Old Trafford is far from clear, as he was set to leave the club in 2025. There are already reports that his team-mates are worried about the captain potentially leaving this summer.
Well, United are already looking ahead to a post-Fernandes world and appear ready to back their new manager with a surprise new contract.
According to a report in Football Transfers, the club are “ready to make a major move” to sign Chelsea and England star Cole Palmer, whom they “have a long-standing admiration for”.
It may not be as far-fetched an idea as you think. The report suggests the Blues are “open to selling” their key attacker, but he won’t come cheap. If you want to get this deal over the line, his expected transfer fee is currently £87m.
Comparison of Palmer and Fernandes in their prime
There is no doubting the talent and skill that Palmer possesses. Regarded as one of the Premier League’s biggest stars, he is the “perfect package” according to Statman Dave and will bring a lot of quality and dynamism to United’s squad.
The 23-year-old, from Wythenshawe, Manchester, has enjoyed a sensational record with Chelsea. In 109 games for the club, he found the back of the net 47 times and assisted a further 29 goals. In many of those matches, he has played as a No. 10 in a similar area where Fernandes influences the game.
This season hasn’t been the best for Palmer due to injuries, but in his debut season at Stamford Bridge he took charge of the whole team, scoring 33 goals and assisting in as many games as in the Premier League. He was sensational and has continued to do so ever since.
As good as Chelsea’s number 10 is, stepping into Fernandes’ shoes at Old Trafford will certainly be a difficult task. Back in 2020, teammate Diogo Dalot hinted that he would “become a legend” at Old Trafford, and it’s safe to say he lived up to those expectations.
He has 103 goals and 94 assists in 309 career games for the Red Devils. The Portuguese star has achieved double-digit goal involvement in a United shirt in every season he has played for the club, and has already scored 13 goals this season.
However, Palmer is certainly capable of replacing Fernandes in the long term, as his 2023/24 numbers prove. During that campaign, he proved why Owen Hargreaves said, “My finishing is comparable to some of the best players in the world.”
During this season, Chelsea’s number 10 averaged 0.89 goal-creating actions and 2.47 key passes per 90 minutes, while Fernandes averaged 0.55 goal-creating actions and 3.29 key passes per game. From a goalscoring perspective, the England international could be a huge upgrade.
Key statistics for Palmer and Fernandes in the 23/24 season | ||
|---|---|---|
State (per 90) | palmer | Fernandes |
goals and assists | 1.13 | 0.52 |
key pass | 2.47 | 3.29 |
progressive path | 6.77 | 8.58 |
Action to set goals | 0.89 | 0.55 |
progressive carry | 4.02 | 2.49 |
Statistics from FBref | ||
As the numbers and underlying statistics show, we are talking about two of the Premier League’s most talented final third creators. If United were to sign Palmer to replace Fernandes, it feels like he has the talent to step up and replace one of United’s great players.
Of course, it would be a big deal to make that happen, but for a player of Palmer’s quality, it seems like a good way to spend that kind of money. It seems only fitting that the Manchenian returns home and takes over Fernandes’ duties at Old Trafford.
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