He's another Fernandes: INEOS readying Man Utd offer for £51m "magician"
da stake casino： Manchester United’s bid to keep their season alive continues on Thursday evening, with Ruben Amorim’s side facing a make-or-break Europa League quarter-final tussle at home to Lyon.
da cassino： Victory would nudge the Red Devils one step closer to European glory and the riches of the Champions League. Defeat, however, would leave the Old Trafford side with almost nothing left to play for with over a month of the campaign left to play.
As evidenced during Sunday’s 4-1 defeat away at Newcastle United, Amorim – who made five changes for that brutal loss – appears to have put all his eggs in the Europa League basket, with United running a real risk of even finishing in a lowly 17th place in the Premier League come the end of May.
Whatever happens on the continental front, such domestic woes have outlined the need for yet another major squad overhaul this summer, with club legend Gary Neville already outling that his former side need at least “five new players straight away” to help bolster the Portuguese’s ranks.
Unsurprisingly, speculation is already rife regarding the potential targets that could end up in Manchester, with it currently looking as if INEOS could be targeting a potential successor to Bruno Fernandes.
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If 2025 is anything to go by, it looks as if the INEOS regime are keen to pursue a youth-centric approach on the transfer front, having already snapped up a 20-year-old Patrick Dorgu and an 18-year-old Ayden Heaven in January – with 17-year-old wing-back, Diego Leon, set to arrive from his native Paraguay ahead of next season.
After years of plumping for high-profile, marquee signings – such as the £70m deal for a 30-year-old Casemiro back in 2022 – there appears to be a change in tact, with the Old Trafford hierarchy looking to sign players for the long-term moving forward.
Indeed, reports in Spain have suggested that United are even willing to make an offer for Real Madrid starlet, Arda Guler, with the 20-year-old seeking increased game time amid his bit-part role under Carlo Ancelotti.
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The suggestion is that the Premier League outfit are open to forking out a fee of around €60m (£51m) in order to land the Turkish sensation, with Madrid having signed the youngster from Fenerbahce on a reported €20m (£17m) deal in 2023.
As per the report, United are set to watch the developments at Madrid ‘closely’, before making their move, with it set to be an intriguing wait to see whether the ‘Turkish Messi’ does end up in English football next term.
Why Man Utd could be targeting the next Bruno Fernandes
Described as a “legend” by Amorim last month, Fernandes has yet again been one of the few shining lights amid what has been a wretched campaign at Old Trafford, with the 30-year-old scoring and assisting on 34 occasions in all competitions to date.
Even during the weekend defeat at Newcastle United, the Red Devils skipper was at the heart of one of the few moments of quality for the visitors, having showcased a delightful link-up with Joshua Zirkzee in the early exchanges.
The player to have created the joint-most chances in the top-flight in 2024/25, Fernandes is a playmaker in every sense of the word, having previously been hailed as a “creative machine” by departing Manchester City star, Kevin De Bruyne.
While Guler is not of that ilk just yet, the promising “magician” – as hailed by talent scout Jacek Kulig – appears to be stylistically comparable to the Portugal international, with FBref noting that the two men are similar players among those in their position in Europe’s top five leagues.
As evidenced in the table below, the pair are particularly alike with regard to their progressive pass record, with Guler ranking in the top 12% among his peers in that regard, while Fernandes leads the way in the top 1%.
Fernandes vs Guler – key stats (last 365 days)
Stat (per 90)
Fernandes
Guler
Non-penalty goals
0.19
0.43
Assists
0.33
0.21
Shot-creating actions
5.93
4.91
Pass completion
75.3%
85.1%
Progressive passes
9.32
6.12
Progressive carries
2.43
2.63
Successful take-ons
0.79
1.71
Tackles
2.27
1.78
Interceptions
0.75
0.50
Blocks
1.10
1.07
Stats via FBref
Equally, their record for defensive metrics also outlines the work that both men do off the ball, with that ability to press from the front ensuring that the Madrid starlet could be a dream addition for one of the two number ten berths.
Forking out around £51m for a player who has started just 12 games this season could appear a real risk, although Guler has still managed to chalk up ten goals and assists in that time, taking his overall tally to 16 goal involvements in 47 games for the LaLiga giants.
The young left-footer – who can operate centrally or off the right flank – also memorably scored a stunner for his country against Georgia at Euro 2024, having ended that tournament with three goals and assists to his name.
It may have only been in moments, yet the 5 foot 9 sensation has showcased what he can do at the elite level. As such, if United are seeking to acquire another Fernandes-like figure, then they should look no further than the rising Turkish superstar.
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