The Manchester United fan base has been truly blessed with a catalog of elite-level talent over the years, and Bruno Fernandes is the latest addition to that list.
The Portugal international arrived in 2020 as an unknown to many supporters, but it is no exaggeration to say that he is now one of the best No. 10s in Premier League history.
He has made 226 appearances in England’s top flight, scoring a total of 140 goals and assists, and has since contributed to a goal on average every 1.6 games.
This season alone is arguably his best season with the Red Devils, with the 31-year-old currently needing just two more assists to break the division’s single-season record of 20 assists.
He was the club’s savior during the dark days at Old Trafford, but it is vital that the hierarchy makes top-level reinforcements to take the burden off the attacking players’ shoulders in 2026/27.
Manchester United’s most goals and assists in the PL | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
wayne rooney | 273 |
ryan giggs | 272 |
Paul Scholes | 161 |
david beckham | 142 |
Bruno Fernandes | 140 |
Cristiano Ronaldo | 140 |
ole gunnar solskjaer | 128 |
marcus rashford | 127 |
Manchester United approach sensational £40m signing
United have already advertised a number of talented signings across Europe in an attempt to strengthen their attacking line-up this summer.
Just a few days ago, RB Leipzig star Yann Diomande was again mentioned as a possible summer target, with Liverpool also very keen on signing him.
It is reported that the Bundesliga side are demanding a transfer fee of around £87 million to sell the 19-year-old, who has scored 13 goals in all competitions this season.
However, Diomande is not the only wide player on the Red Devils’ radar at the moment, with AC Milan star Rafael Leao once again attracting the Red Devils’ attention.
According to Calciomercato, United have already contacted Serie A teams to ask them to sign the 26-year-old before the June slot opens.
According to the report, the Italian side are currently demanding a fee of around £40 million for the Portugal international over the next few months.
However, Milan are said to still be very interested in signing Joshua Zirkzee, which could result in a cash-plus player deal between the two sides.
Why Leo is United’s best player since Fernandes
United have spent a small fortune in recent years trying to get back to the top of the Premier League, but so far their efforts have been futile.
The club reportedly spent £800m on new players starting in the summer of 2022 alone, with many of the big-money signings failing to live up to expectations.
Manchester United’s richest contract in history | |||
|---|---|---|---|
player | commission | signatory | year |
paul pogba | £89m | juventus | 2016 |
anthony | £81.3m | ajax | 2022 |
harry maguire | £80m | leicester city | 2019 |
Romelu Lukaku | £75m | everton | 2017 |
Jadon Sancho | £73m | borussia dortmund | 2021 |
Brian Mbeumo | £71m | brentford | 2025 |
Benjamin Sesco | £66.4m | RB Leipzig | 2025 |
Rasmus Hoylund | £64m | atalanta | 2022 |
More than £200m was spent on improving Old Trafford’s front line last summer alone, with the likes of Brian Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesco and Matheus Cunha joining the Red Devils.
The aforementioned trio have scored a combined 27 goals in the league this season, but it’s clear the board are looking to add depth and quality to the final third.
The move for AC Milan star Leo, who has lit up Serie A and Europe in recent seasons, will do just that.
He has now scored over 22 goals and assists in each of his last four seasons at the San Siro, scoring over 10 goals in each year.
The 26-year-old has already scored 10 goals in all competitions this season, going on to score more than Cunha and Mbeumo in their first year in Manchester.
Described as “world class” by analyst Ben Mattinson, Leao has scored 1.3 shots on target per 90 in Serie A this season, subsequently ranking in the top 15% of other wingers in the division.
Combining the aforementioned numbers with his goalscoring numbers, he could certainly live up to the hierarchy’s expectations of signing another top-level attacker this summer.
He was also incredibly talented at creating chances, completing 84% of his passes and converting 0.5 of 90 big chances. Both place him in the top 8% of Italian stars.
His direct nature has also attracted attention in recent seasons, with the Portugal international achieving an impressive 1.3 successful dribbles per 90 throughout the 2025/26 campaign. It’s easy to see why Milan manager Stefano Pioli once said, “Leo reminds me of early Thierry Henry.” He cut inside from the left side and caused havoc.
Paying £40m for a player of the quality of an attacker in today’s market would be incredible business and could take United’s attack to the next level.
Fernandes’ international experience could also play a big part in his chances of success at Old Trafford, which could only help the club’s title chances next season.
If he makes the move and can approach the level of his compatriot in Manchester, such a move will surely go down in the Red Devils’ history books.
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