Paul Pogba can prove Liverpool legend's Bruno Fernandes prediction wrong

Manchester United's deal for Bruno Fernandes is ongoing and the Portuguese's arrival could be imminent.

Regardless of the price tag, the signing of Fernandes would be a positive step in the right direction for United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer continues his overhaul of the squad he inherited from his predecessor, Jose Mourinho .

United were linked heavily with a move for the playmaker in the summer transfer window but this time the speculation is legit. The Sporting Lisbon man is a versatile midfielder, comfortable in the holding position while also deadly going forward, scoring 15 goals and registering 13 assists across all competitions in Portugal this campaign.

And former Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler, writing in the Mirror , believes Fernandes could potentially be even better than Pogba: “Bruno Fernandes looks a good player and will add some real attacking intent, and possibly provide far more goals than Pogba”.

The addition of Fernandes could transform United's midfield, but the signing could benefit one particular player, more than any. Paul Pogba has become an enigma this season however United's record signing still has a vital role to play.

While the Frenchman has been plagued with an ankle injury this season, there have also been doubts raised over the midfielder's commitment, with headlines linking Pogba to Real Madrid refusing to go away.

But despite these concerns the World Cup winner recently sent United a clear message. Before Christmas, as the Red Devils found themselves at 2-0 down to Watford at Vicarage Road, a half fit Pogba was introduced as a substitute.

Pogba instantly looked a class above his team mates and the stats made for pleasant reading too, with United taking 10 shots in the 26 minutes he played compared to recording 7 shots in the 64 minutes he didn't.

It's easy to forget Pogba had his best season ever last term, in a struggling United side, and the signing of Fernandes can only help Pogba find his spark in a United shirt once again. Since his return from Juventus in 2016, Pogba has arguably lacked top quality teammates around him and United's rebuild under Solksjaer has started to, slowly but surely, amend this issue.

Fernandes playing alongside Pogba could prove to be a lethal combination and the Portuguese's creative flair would mean United are no longer just dependant on Pogba, alleviating any pressure.

While Fernandes has an impressive goalscoring record himself, Pogba could also benefit from the healthy competition. This could only improve his form further and no doubt Pogba would strive to eventually prove Fowler wrong.