It wasn’t a vintage Premier League season, but Bruno Fernandes’ superb performance was definitely a highlight. The Portuguese ace is in a class of his own, setting an outright Premier League record for assists on the final day of the season.
Fernandes is in true form and will be hoping to lead United to silver next season. They are already being mooted as outsiders to win the Premier League title, with Michael Carrick given the job on a full-time basis.
United, who have played just 40 games in all competitions this season, are looking to get their team ready to compete on multiple fronts, with reinforcements expected in the summer. Early withdrawal from both domestic competitions has meant the Red Devils have a lot of free time in midweek, but that is about to change next season.
However, United will also need reinforcements as they bid farewell to one of their key players, with Casemiro set to leave the club this summer. Despite struggling under Ruben Amorim, the Brazilian bounced back and was in great form throughout the second half of the season.
Since the beginning of February, Casemiro has scored five league goals for United and finished the season with nine goals overall. Unsurprisingly, much of that came from Fernandes’ assists, which could be a challenge for United next season.
That’s because Fernandes and Casemiro have proven to be the most lethal combination in the Premier League this season, with no player providing more assists for their opponents. This was a beneficial combination for the 20-time champion, and one that Carrick most likely had to deal with.
United are already in the process of signing Casemiro’s replacement, with Ederson on the brink of joining the three-time European champions. Atalanta’s 26-year-old ace has his best years ahead of him and could play in a variety of midfield positions.
United signed the Brazil international for an initial fee of £35m and is expected to sign him for a further £3m in add-ons. One reason for the low fee is that Ederson only has one year left on his Serie A contract.
In all competitions for Atalanta this season, Ederson has scored three goals and provided two more assists. He already boasts Champions League experience and is expected to become Carrick’s first permanent signing as manager.
