It has been clear for a long time that Manchester United need to strengthen their midfield. Now, an in-form midfielder that plays for a club with whom United have done some noteworthy business before has expressed an interest in joining this month. It's looking good, right?

Bruno Fernandes is keen to move to Old Trafford, so this deal could well happen in the coming weeks. But is he the man to solve United's.
Speculative shooter with consistent return

A look at Fernandes' raw numbers hints at why he has attracted so much interest over the past couple of years.
A central or attacking midfielder who both creates and scores goals with remarkable consistency and seems to have hit his peak at 25 years of age, he is an attractive proposition for Europe's biggest clubs, once the sizeable hurdle of his transfer fee is surmounted.
Playing in an inconsistent Sporting Lisbon team that sits fourth in the Portuguese Primeira Liga, 16 points off top spot, Fernandes is the hub of just about everything that happens in the offensive half of the pitch.
Both this season and last, Fernandes has averaged a goal or assist per league game, with 33 in 33 appearances in 2018/19 (20 goals and 13 assists), and 15 in 15 appearances in 2019/20 (eight goals and seven assists).
Add in the five goals and three assists he put together in five Europa League group stage games this season, including two goals and two assists in the 4-0 annihilation of PSV in November - a win that secured Sporting's place in the knockout rounds - and you clearly have a player who has mastered the level he is currently playing at.
The thing about Fernandes is that he isn't the most efficient of players in front of goal. He shoots an awful lot, averaging more attempts per game - from all manner of positions - than any other player in the Portuguese top flight this season, with 3.6, despite operating from central midfield.
Only 13 players to have started at least 10 games this season across Europe's top six leagues are having more shots per game this season than Fernandes, and all of them are strikers or wide forwards.
It does, at least, bode well that Fernandes is able to get into positions to shoot so often, even if he is - perhaps unsurprisingly given he is a midfielder - scoring less frequently than every other player who shoots this much, apart from Mario Balotelli.
What catches the eye about Fernandes is that he also creates as many chances as he has shot, with 3.7 chances created per game this season. His combined total of 7.3 shots and chances created per 90 minutes is the fourth-highest of any player in the top six European leagues this season.
As can be seen from the below graph, he is in esteemed company.
The question for a team like Manchester United is whether Fernandes can transfer that kind of return from the sixth highest rated European league (according to Uefa's coefficient system) to the second.
Free-roaming midfielder
Fernandes has started a handful of matches behind a lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation this season and the majority of the rest on the right side of a midfield three.
It is interesting that Kevin De Bruyne is among the other players who also rank among the best in Europe for chances created and shots because while Fernandes has a long, long way to go before he will ever be compared to a player like De Bruyne, there are some similarities in what Fernandes does.
De Bruyne also plays on the right side of a midfield three for Manchester City, and is often found lurking around the top-right corner of the penalty area to whip crosses in to the back post.
He is the best on the planet at doing that and Fernandes has had some success doing the same in Portugal, quite possibly in an attempt to copy the Belgian.
But Fernandes would have to learn to play a more disciplined role to make the step up to the Premier League.
As one of the best players in Portugal he roams freely, popping up on the left wing and also making plenty of runs beyond the centre forward to get on the end of through balls, safe in the knowledge that he has two defensive midfielders behind him to mop up loose balls.
De Bruyne, for example, is extremely quick to regain his position in central midfield once possession has been lost. That is what the biggest teams demand.
Fernandes also drops deep regularly to get the ball off the defence before spreading play further forwards, while some of his most eye-catching work has been in chipping balls over the top of a defence for wingers to run onto.
Strangely for a midfielder in his mould, he seems to do most of his damage picking passes from a deep position or running in behind.
Would he be a good fit at Manchester United?
Beyond the questions over whether 25-year-old Fernandes would be capable of adapting to the pace of the Premier League swiftly enough to be a worthwhile January signing, it will also be worth Ole Gunnar Solskjaer considering whether he is the player to solve their problems.
United need a creative player to provide the link between their midfield and attack, which have often felt like separate entities this season. They are at their best when they don't have much of the ball and are able to focus on counter-attacking through the speed of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Daniel James, but when teams sit back against them, they struggle to create many chances and could do with a creative midfielder to get behind the opposition midfield and slide passes through for the attackers.
Fernandes would certainly help but he is not the kind of player that drifts into positions between the lines, in the way that make the best No 10s so hard to defend against, much like peak-David Silva.
But nor is Jesse Lingard or Andreas Pereira that player, while Juan Mata is not the player he used to be and nor is he the long-term solution.
Bruno Fernandes has the potential to be that man, as long as United can agree a price they are willing to pay to take a punt on him.
Liscdkno
1
we want to see Bruno at man U plz I'm tire of waiting vakwetu
TAKIYAH11
1
BRUNO FERNANDES CAN BRING THE WINNING TOUCH TO MANCHESTER UNITED AND A 4th SPOT PLACEMENT IN THE EPL
ceyablouz
0
Man. U should get him already..
tekaclotyz
1
man united win livepool 2-1
luciano-mufc
0
NOT AGAIN ... JUST SIGN HIM
doonuyz
0
am tired of this ooo, stop pls or else, na curse.
maubdiknrs
0
it is bcuz the guy is not an English man
JoelStephen
1
can you please stop sharing articles regarding B Fernandes, you hurt us alot. The board is not serious at all. I'm doubting if the deal will materialise😪.
Yooelopu
1
Am tired of this App please and Woodward
Nubcdelsuy
0
fucken sick and tired of rumours about thiz guy no done deal shiit it pissed me of now
NABRI
0
cesclmotuz
0
I wish the windows is closed
meoeikouz
0
I think ve seen Someone like him in the Shape of Sigurdison, his off & on the Ball Work rate is Questionable I think is nt a Type of a Player who can Adapt to Epl & Utd team[50percent]
cekeilm
0
I wonder why man u transfer is always full of speculation, unlike other big clubs across Europe, the so called Ed Wood. should be changed if he is the one responsible for it, other clubs will go for player today tomorrow u will hear he has completed his medical, am tired pls.
KhuulestbwoyDreamja
0
He is a good player but we all know what United can do. Di maria,Sanchez,Lukaku,Depay are all examples of United miraculous work
I even forgot Raola prophecy will come true
JOSEJR7
7
Man United XI with Bruno Fernandez.
zupeiknpyz
1
Bruno would fit in well at Man city type of game , or, Liverpool . Do not know how he’ll fit in to United style of game .
noedilopry
0
man u sign dis guy n stop giving stories
Jubbcdlnty
0
Kind notice: Please bring Bruno to Man utd at first place... then we'll see what he will bring to the club...
Bruno fernandes
Jubbcdlnty
0
Bruno fernandes
Jubbcdlnty
1
Bruno Fernando
Hizbcknz
1
if the board can't buy they should come out clear and we the fans will buy!!!
Hizbcknz
0
United will sign him in the spirit and not in the reality 😂😂😂🤣
mirfa34
0
Kind notice: Please bring Bruno to Man utd at first place... then we'll see what he will bring to the club...
Vupadestu
1
he'll bring goals and assist for sure
LastLiv
0
First sign him then we will judge
yusdmosuz
0
we have a lot players on the bench not helping the team sell them off and get " BRUNO NOW :
yusdmosuz
0
since our season is disastrous so far play, Greenwood, Chong, Bassaka band other promising academy players and get rid of Pogba,.n .
30725522(deleted)
0
wtf messi name was not there
go ask them
kepbeilsty
2
I dont know why this people take long to sign player kaa😏😏😏😏 we want change in term
Hasabenrsy
0
u seen him on Friday
Hasabenrsy
0
u seen him on Friday
Jopabcims
1
Good midfield bruno fernandes👍
Godwin-10
1
Bruno fenandes will be very good to man utd if really they would sign him.
MuncheeChestUnited
0
Im tired of hearing rumor or “what he could bring to the team” I already fucking know his capabilities that’s why i don’t wanna heat rumours
Naobeklt
0
The thing is also the board is not listening to or seems to have the club at heart.. should all these comments are digested Bruno will be with us tomorrow
kotcilnsz
0
why can't u just sign him we are tired of rumours
johnz0000
1
wtf messi name was not there
kaydklmpu
0
Who cares he isn't coming why talk so much about him??
bizabdklor
2
He bring change
EAsoft
1
I am tired of these rumours sign him already
debklnstz
1
surely man united board are not serious at all , two weeks negotiating [Crylaugh] they don't decide on wat they want
heyaekopty
0
Better than having top star who always missing.!
ceubklmpry
0
Man U urgently need a good midfield player that's why not to delay to sign Bruno.
Uvais6
0
bruno will come in man utd @allfootball
Uvais6
1
what a hell is this bruno will come man utd??!!! @all football
kingbiffy
0
am tired of the same old news of Bruno joining Man U
Jabcdeiuyz
1
spurs hv sign benfica winger while man u is stil in toilet affraid of sorting out brunos move what a fake bored
FootballAllFootball
0
He could bring nothing because he aint coming
Sezcdiklmt
1
we shouldn't be taking time with Bruno transfer we need to sign a striker also ogs and the entire united board are been stupid my pity is for our coach who will be sacked following the board coz if he doesn't get a striker together with Bruno then he should be ready to face the fans coz united have lots of fixtures at hand and martial is not always fit and we don't have a game changer who can play that central role(9) as a striker