Man Utd look likely to sign £80m star

Champions League football awaits, Michael Carrick has stepped into the technical area on a permanent basis and Ederson is on his way. Life is good at Manchester United for the first time in a long time.

Those at Old Trafford have been here before, of course. One too many times, in fact. This time could be different, however, and that stems from INEOS’ excellent recruitment.

Transforming Man United’s recruitment looked like one of the toughest tasks for INEOS when they first arrived. It was a department which seemed hell-bent on throwing money at the world’s biggest stars or worse, allowing their manager to welcome familiar faces for even more absurd fees.

It saw the likes of Antony arrive and Cristiano Ronaldo return and, as such, resulted in the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Erik ten Hag’s tenure. Luckily, things look rather different now.

Man Utd expected to sign £80m star

Something had to change and INEOS have flipped the script entirely – welcoming players who are Premier League proven and players who fit a system rather than a headline.

It’s why Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Senne Lammens have all particularly thrived and why Ederson is likely to follow suit.

The Brazilian is set to join the club in a deal worth around €45m (£39m) with bonuses to commence a midfield rebuild which could also feature a relegated star.

According to reputable journalist Simon Stone who was speaking on the BBC, Man United are likely to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United, who are demanding as much as £80m to sell the midfielder.

Stone said: “I think with Mateus Fernandes, I would be surprised if that deal didn’t get done. At the moment, I think we’re in a bit of a stand-off in terms of West Ham saying they don’t have to sell. Well, they probably do actually. West Ham are also saying that they want £80m.”

Reportedly open to the move, the player will want assurances over game time. Following the departure of Casemiro and whilst rumours persist around Manuel Ugarte, though, there should be no concerns that he’d miss out on a starting place at Old Trafford.

Fernandes’ final decision is set to arrive soon and all involved at Man United will be hoping that ends with a move to Old Trafford this summer.

Where Fernandes fits into new-look Man Utd midfield

In Ederson, Kobbie Mainoo and Fernandes, Man United would have one of the most balanced midfields in the Premier League.

Ederson offers that tenacity out of possession. Mainoo progresses play through his ability to drive forward and also offers a goalscoring threat, whilst Fernandes is a combination of both.

In terms of providing a foundation for Bruno Fernandes to thrive, that trio would be as perfect as it gets. There’s enough attacking threat to pull players away from the talisman and enough defensive cover to hand him the license to do what he is best at.

There should be no concerns over game time for the potentially arriving West Ham man, either. Out of the three midfielders, he provides the most in and out of possession. His place should be nailed on if he completes a summer move.

Ultimately, handing Bruno Fernandes the keys to Man United’s attacking play without making a system sacrifice will be the answer to any success for Carrick’s side. Even if it means spending £80m on his namesake, Man United would eventually reap the rewards.

In previous years, Man United’s recruitment team may have been against the idea of signing a relegated star. They’ve looked at foreign markets instead

Yet, over the last year, they have taken a strategy employer by Sir Alex Ferguson; signing Premier League proven players. In that regard, this is a move that could follow the success of Mbeumo and primarily Cunha for like Fernandes, was playing down at the bottom end of the top-flight.

While Cunha started slowly at Old Trafford, scoring just once in his first 12 matches, he has been a roaring success, ending the campaign with ten goals to his name.

Now, INEOS should repeat that transfer genius by welcoming Fernandes. When the final whistle sounded at the London Stadium to confirm West Ham’s relegation a few weeks ago, it was a blow for all involved. The midfielder, however, could hold his head high. He enjoyed an excellent individual campaign.

At just 21 years old, the Portuguese star has earned the chance to hand Man United the ultimate all-rounder next to Mainoo and Ederson, as a new-look midfield takes the Premier League by storm.

He’s open to the move and the ball is now in the court of those who write the cheques, no matter how hefty they may seem. A repeat of Mbeumo and Cunha from a year ago should be on the cards.