Bruno Fernandes’ future at Manchester United is uncertain (Image: James Gill – Danehouse, Getty Images)
Former Manchester United forward Louis Saha believes the Red Devils should explore the possibility of signing Enzo Fernandes, but has made it clear that the Chelsea ace should not be considered a direct successor to club captain Bruno Fernandes.
Fernandes’ long-term future at Stamford Bridge remains in doubt. The Argentine has previously expressed his desire to live in the Spanish capital, with plans to one day join Real Madrid. Comments that he was left out of the squad for two games by the recently sacked Liam Rosenior. United have been aggressively strengthening their midfield this summer, with rumors of Casemiro leaving the club and Manuel Ugarte leaving Old Trafford. Fernandes was heavily linked with a move to Manchester’s red half during the 2022 World Cup, but ultimately opted for a move to Chelsea for a then-Premier League record fee of £104 million.
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Almost four years after arriving in west London, Saha believes Fernandes would be a smart signing for United. Despite this, Saha has cautioned against using the Argentine as a direct replacement for the club captain, as Fernandes’ own future remains somewhat uncertain.
Speaking for Bettinia, Saha said: “I don’t think Enzo Fernandes has the same style as Bruno Fernandes, but he could still fit in midfield. He has composure on the ball, intelligence and the ability to open up play. He’s not quite the same as a holding midfielder like Caicedo, but he has aggression and quality. There’s nothing wrong with that, but if he’s available, he’ll definitely be used.” It’s something Manchester United should consider.”
Fernandes has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer, with both Real Madrid and Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain reportedly keen to secure the World Cup winner’s signature. United have been linked with a number of midfielders, but Fernandes’ name rarely comes up in speculation. With Casemiro set to leave at the end of the season, defensive midfield has emerged as one of United’s most pressing priorities.
Bruno Fernandes was linked with United before moving to Chelsea (Image: Getty)
Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton, Nottingham Forest ace Elliot Anderson, Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimarães and Brighton & Hove Albion midfield cornerstone Carlos Baleva are all thought to be on United’s radar. It is thought that up to two midfielders could be brought in, although that number could rise further if Ugarte also leaves.
Fernandes has also revealed that he will think about his future at the club after the World Cup, and there is a possibility that he may be heading towards leaving. In April, he told the Telegraph: “Everyone who comes to Man United wants to win every trophy. Nobody thinks when they come to the club that they’re going to be fighting for one or two trophies in six years. You want to be fighting for every trophy.”
“Then we went to the final three times and didn’t win. That’s possible, but at least you’ve been in the fight. We were close and every time I’ve talked to the club, what I’ve wanted is since I’ve been here, I want to play, because if I play, we’ll get closer to winning. If I don’t play, we don’t have a chance to get close to anything.”
“So the number one thing that the club understood is that the last time we won the Premier League was in 2013. For a club like Man United, that’s too long. It’s not normal to not win the Premier League for this long. As players, you have to understand that the fans and the expectations are always going to be that we want to come back and win the Premier League. As players, we have that expectation when we come to Man United and that hasn’t changed.”
