Manchester United are riding the crest of a wave under manager Michael Carrick, but INEOS will be hoping for an even bigger breaker to take the club to glorious heights again next season.
However, it remains to be seen whether the next step in Old Trafford’s plans will be to offer the caretaker manager a permanent post, with the likes of Roberto De Zerbi interested in taking the job this summer.
Of course, a concerted and dedicated strategy will be essential if they are to close the gap on Arsenal and Manchester City at the top of the English league, and clarity will be needed before the transfer window slides open.
And, without a doubt, the Red Devils must continue to grow around Bruno Fernandes.
Manchester United want to sign new signing Bruno Fernandes
Suitors from Saudi Arabia were vying for Fernandes’ signature last summer, but the Portugal international later spoke of his sadness at the club’s push for Fernandes to accept a huge fee.
United captain Fernandes, 31, feels he can do more at Old Trafford and is aiming for promotion to the Premier League and Champions League.
It’s clear that money isn’t everything, and it’s clear that United benefit hugely by keeping the 31-year-old on their books, and his performances during the season will surely see him in line for the PFA Player of the Year award in the coming months.
But Fernandes won’t be around forever and manager Jason Wilcox appears to be preparing to bring in a proven successor in Prem.
According to Football Insider, Manchester United are interested in signing Morgan Rodgers from Aston Villa and are unfazed by the Villans’ £100m offer for the England international.
Rodgers, 23, is one of the Premier League’s sharpest attacking midfielders and although he is not yet at his level, Old Trafford analysts believe he could develop as the next Fernandes if he moves to Manchester.
Arsenal, Chelsea and even Real Madrid are also keen on signing him.
Why Manchester United want Morgan Rodgers
If Manchester United want to sign Rodgers this summer, they would have to break transfer records to land him, but his performances over the past few years under Unai Emery’s regime underline the value of signing such a rising star.
Since the start of last season, the Three Lions star has scored 24 goals and provided 23 assists in all competitions, with pundits starting to suggest he is one of the Premier League’s best players.
Is it worth shelling out the big bucks for this attacker? Fernandez is still firing on all cylinders, but he’s no longer a spring chicken. It’s worth remembering that he was 25 years old when he arrived in England, making him older than Rodgers is now.
Rodgers may not be up to the Manchester United captain’s record, but he’s certainly not opposed to scoring goals, providing assists and coming out with a variety of weapons. The Athletic’s Jacob Tanswell even called him a “machine” that was “made of bricks.”
25/26 PL Stats – Rodgers vs Fernandes | ||
|---|---|---|
Statistics (per 90) | rogers | Fernandes |
Match (start) | 31(31) | 28(28) |
Goal + Assist | 8+5 | 8+16 |
touch* | 48.5 | 76.5 |
Number of shots (on target)* | 2.3 (1.0) | 2.6(0.8) |
missed a big opportunity | 3 | 8 |
Exact path* | 21.6 (76%) | 47.5 (83%) |
A big opportunity has arisen | 10 | twenty four |
Key pass* | 1.3 | 3.6 |
It was successful. dribble* | 1.1 | 0.5 |
Ball recovery rate* | 3.7 | 4.9 |
Tackle* | 1.0 | 1.6 |
Win a duel* | 4.2 | 4.0 |
Fernandes’ assist numbers are almost unbelievable and he may break a seemingly unbreakable record this season. Rodgers won’t bring the same quality to the Theater of Dreams next season, but his movement, trickery and directness will give the club a different kind of threat.
All the while, he absorbed the fruits of Fernandes’ skillset.
In December, Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher said he “looks like one of the best players in the Premier League”, and his development as a player certainly proves that argument. Perhaps the scariest thing is that he still needs to work on a lot of development, but if INEOS acquires him this year, they have nothing to fear.
Fernandes is almost irreplaceable. he is very good But Rodgers’ athleticism and energy will give a huge boost to a United side that already has dangerous mavericks in Matheus Cunha and Brian Mbeumo in their side. And that doesn’t even take into account the improvement Benjamin Sesko can make over the next year or so.
Villa’s No. 10 is the real deal and it would be unreasonable to expect him to match Bruno’s performance since his off-season at Old Trafford, but even with such a hefty transfer fee, he could add a lot and help reinvigorate and synergize a team looking to get back to the top of their game.
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