Tag: M

Manchester United fans are loving Bruno Fernandes’ picture with Paul Pogba, which was uploaded to the Portugal international’s official Instagram account. Fernandes moved to Old Trafford in the January transfer window and is yet to play alongside the France international, who has been injured for all of 2020 so far. Now, though, they’ve been training together for the first time.

United have seen Fernandes flourish since his move from Sporting Lisbon in the New Year, with the 25-year-old involved in six goals from eight games to date.

He’s finally shared an image of himself and Pogba at the club’s Carrington training complex, accompanied with the message: “PP @paulpogba.”

Hopes are high United can coax the best from the pair to give themselves the best possible chance of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

And fans have reacted positively to Fernandes’ picture, with one saying: “Can’t wait to see them play together football hurry back.”

A second said: “Really hope they link up well.”

A third opined: “Hope their partnership will destroy the prem.”

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“My word I’m not ready for this partnership,” were the words of a fourth excited supporter.

“Bruno and Pogba in the same picture.. tears in my eyes,” another added.

“I cannot wait for this duo ffs,” a sixth fan contributed.

And a seventh said: “Brogbaaaa…Romance …u love to see itt..”

Pogba has struggled for consistency ever since he returned to United from Serie A giants Juventus back in the transfer window of 2016.

He’s become a much-maligned figure and wants out, with Real Madrid and Juventus both showing interest in the 2018 World Cup winner.

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But Fernandes recently defended his new team-mate in an interview with United’s official website, saying: “We can say in football that people normally forget what you do good when you have a mistake.

“You can do good for 34 games, and one game you do bad and everyone will remember that.

“Paul is coming from a bad moment, because of the situation.

“When he played also, the club and the team was not good, because the expectations are high for Paul, because Paul is a top player and Manchester United pay a lot for him, and expectations are a lot for him.

“It’s normal when you are in that situation you don’t play like a superstar, because everyone expects from Paul like they expect from (Cristiano) Ronaldo at Juventus or (Lionel) Messi at Barcelona.

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“Everyone expects this from Paul in Manchester, because they know he has the qualities for this.

“Also this is confidence in Paul.

“The team, we have a lot of confidence in Paul.”

United were on a run of 11 games without defeat before the coronavirus crisis brought football to a crashing halt.

They’ll be hoping to continue that form if and when the Premier League season starts up again. 

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Manchester United are eyeing Timo Werner and Moussa Dembele with Odion Ighalo primed to return to China, reports say. The Nigeria international has impressed for the Red Devils since joining on loan in January, scoring four goals from eight games. But, with the player set to leave Old Trafford, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is now eyeing replacements.

Manchester United were criticised by many within the footballing world following their decision to swoop for Ighalo in January.

However he’s proven to be a shrewd acquisition in the time since, with the Nigeria international scoring four goals from eight games.

Ighalo is, though, set to return to the Chinese Super League with Shanghai wanting him back in time for the new season.

And Goal claim United could now swoop for Werner and Dembele, with the pair under consideration behind the scenes at Old Trafford.

RB Leipzig have seen Werner scale new heights following the arrival of Julian Nagelsmann at the start of the season.

The Germany international has scored 24 Bundesliga goals this season, managing seven assists along the way.

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Werner was sublime at the weekend as Leipzig kept their hopes of winning the league title alive with a 5-0 win over Mainz, with the striker scoring a hat-trick.

And it’s claimed that United have him in their thoughts as Solskjaer hunts a replacement for Ighalo this summer.

Another player being considered is Lyon’s Dembele.

The France international was tipped to join United in the January transfer window, only for Ighalo to join instead.

Lyon may have to cut their best players loose this summer in order to raise funds following their failure to qualify for the Champions League.

They finished seventh in the Ligue 1 table following the French government’s decision to scrap the campaign as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

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And he’s been of interest to United for a number of years, with interest dating back to when Dembele played for Fulham.

Since leaving the Cottagers he’s impressed, becoming a key asset for Brendan Rodgers at Celtic prior to his return to France.

And he could be set for a sensational return to England should United decide to go after him at the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Solskjaer recently opened up on what he wants from any new signing – and admitted he preferred players without egos.

“I’d rather have a hole in the squad than an a**hole,” Solskjaer told United We Stand.

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“Personality is so important. We’re a team in a team environment. You want players to have a bit of ego and edge but they have to be able to adapt.

“In March 2019, players were physically tired, mentally tired and we had injuries. The players started with negative thinking, whereas now it’s positive thinking.

“There were other things I didn’t like last year, some personal agendas which couldn’t be sorted out until the summer.

“There will always be players who want to play more in football, but if a team is to be successful then players have to be available at different times.

“I feel in this group we don’t have one bad apple.”

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Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has named the club’s 3-0 win over Watford as his favourite Premier League moment so far. The 25-year-old joined the Red Devils from Sporting Lisbon back in the January transfer window. And he’s been sensational ever since, boosting the club’s chances of finishing in the top four and securing a return to the Champions League.

Fernandes has been magnificent for United since joining from Sporting, being directly involved in six goals from eight games.

There have been some big moments for the Portugal international, who flourished in key victories over Chelsea and Manchester City.

However, Fernandes has now told United’s official website that the club’s 3-0 win over Watford was his favourite moment so far.

“The game I would like to watch would be the game where I scored my first goal, against Watford,” Bruno said.

“I want to feel – not exactly how I would feel in the game – but I can feel the game, the atmosphere and everything when I score.

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“[If I watch this] I can have the motivation to keep training and keep the focus on the return of the game [after the COVID-19 pandemic].”

Many at United think Fernandes will only get better.

The Portugal international will likely be deployed alongside a fit-again Paul Pogba if and when the Premier League returns.

Pogba has been out of action since December.

He will return to the pitch with a point to prove, though, with the 27-year-old a divisive figure among supporters.

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And Fernandes recently defended Pogba for his inconsistency, expressing a belief that he can’t be expected to do the same things as the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

“We can say in football that people normally forget what you do good when you have a mistake,” Fernandes said.

“You can do good for 34 games, and one game you do bad and everyone will remember that.

“Paul is coming from a bad moment, because of the situation.

“When he played also, the club and the team was not good, because the expectations are high for Paul, because Paul is a top player and Manchester United pay a lot for him, and expectations are a lot for him.

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“It’s normal when you are in that situation you don’t play like a superstar, because everyone expects from Paul like they expect from (Cristiano) Ronaldo at Juventus or (Lionel) Messi at Barcelona.

“Everyone expects this from Paul in Manchester, because they know he has the qualities for this.

“Also this is confidence in Paul. The team, we have a lot of confidence in Paul.”

United where on an 11-game unbeaten run before the coronavirus crisis.

And the club are confident they’ll be able to pick up where they left off when football comes back again.

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Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes has fondly recalled the club’s famous 2008 Champions League final win over Chelsea. And he’s hailed Cristiano Ronaldo for the goal the Juventus star scored that day. The Red Devils won the prize on penalties with Edwin van der Sar the hero.

Manchester United beat Chelsea in the 2008 Champions League final on a dramatic night in Moscow.

The Red Devils took the lead through Ronaldo, who out-jumped Michael Essien to power the ball past Petr Cech.

Chelsea levelled through Frank Lampard just before the break, with the current Blues boss capitalising on a slip from Van der Sar.

The Blues looked the favourites to win the match with Lampard and Didier Drogba striking the woodwork.

But it was United who ended up reigning supreme, winning the trophy via an enthralling penalty shootout.

And Fernandes has fondly recalled the match and hailed Ronaldo for the stunning header he produced that night.

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“I think from history I have maybe one game – the Champions League final when Cristiano scores with the header,” he told the club’s official website.

“After this, he misses a penalty, I think it’s the same one right, against Chelsea? This one.

“I think it was a great final and for Cristiano it was one of the best games yet, because he scored an amazing goal with a header. He doesn’t jump, he flies.

“After this, he missed the penalty, but United won the Champions League and at the end we see him crying on the ground because he won the Champions League.

“It was one of the most important games in the history of Manchester United.”

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The game is largely remembered for John Terry’s penalty miss.

After Ronaldo had fluffed his lines, the Chelsea captain at the time had the chance to win the west London giants the trophy they crave most.

However, Terry ended up missing with United going on to win the prize.

And he was recently mocked by Rene Meulensteen, who claimed the Aston Villa coach wasn’t focused enough in the decisive moment.

“If Drogba had been sent off earlier in the game I think we would have been able to capitalise properly, but it seemed to spur Chelsea on,” he told Planet Football.

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“When Terry came up to take the penalty, he thought, ‘This is all about me – all the lights are on me.’

“He pushed his captain’s armband up, but he lost focus and slipped.

“The difference with us was that Nani, Anderson, Ryan Giggs and our other penalty takers were clinically focused.

“When Anelka stepped up, I couldn’t watch but I knew, whatever happened, Edwin was determined that he was going to stop that penalty because he was a winner – it was his Federer moment.

“To win the Champions League and share that euphoria with the players, the staff and the fans was an unbelievable feeling.”

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Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool have been told they will have a huge advantage over Bayern Munich when it comes to Kai Havertz this summer. Munich are believed to be keen on signing the Bayer Leverkusen attacker this summer, but former Newcastle goalkeeper Shaka Hislop warned that they won’t be able to offer him regular football so long as Robert Lewandowski is at the club.

Havertz had another terrific game for Leverkusen on Saturday as he continued his impressive form.

The 20-year-old bagged a double for the second time in a week in Leverkusen’s 3-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach, after scoring a brace against Werder Bremen on Monday.

He has been heavily linked with a transfer this summer, with a host of Premier League teams interested.

Leverkusen want at least £90million for their prized asset, and Munich are also keen.

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But Hislop believes any Premier League side will have the edge over the Bundesliga champions provided they offer him one thing – consistent minutes.

He explained on ESPN FC that because of Lewandowski, it is unlikely that Bayern they will be able to give him any sort of real game time, whereas other clubs will.

Hislop said: “You can understand why everyone is interested when you look at his talent, and he’s going to be 21 next month.

“There’s a huge upside to it.

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“The thing for me is that he plays as an out-and-out striker, that’s his best position.

“He plays around the front three, but he is that point man up front.

“Robert Lewandowski is the best in the league, and at 31 years old, Bayern are probably thinking they can get another two or three more years out of him.

“I’m not sure at 31 how many teams will splash the cash on Robert Lewandowski, so if Havertz is willing to go to Bayern and bide his time for a couple of seasons?

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“I don’t think he should, given what we’ve seen of him.

“Other clubs would find themselves in pole position by offering him minutes from the start.”

Havertz was asked about his future after Leverkusen’s win over Monchengladbach, but refused to get drawn in.

He said: “I’m concentrating on this season and will see what happens afterwards.”

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Manchester United supremo Ed Woodward has been warned the club’s financial results for the fourth quarter will be ‘pretty horrendous’. The Red Devils reeled off the numbers for Q3 on Friday. And football finance expert Kieran Maguire thinks United will continue to suffer – even though the club are relaxed about the economic landscape.

United have their net debt rise 40 per cent – although their gross debt remains unchanged for the past five years.

Revenues are down as a result of the coronavirus crisis, with the Red Devils’ Old Trafford stadium currently shut for business as a result of the pandemic currently impacting the world.

And it’s estimated that the club have lost £23m as a result of Covid-19.

United have insisted they’re happy with their current financial situation – with club managing director Richard Arnold saying: “No question, the economic ramifications from this global pandemic will continue to resonate for years to come.

“But we remain optimistic about the long-term outlook for the sponsorship business and our ability to remain a leader within the market.”

However, football finance expert Maguire has warned the results for Q4 will be ‘pretty horrendous’.

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“The lack of Champions League football and the impact of Covid-19 has been seen in United’s latest financial results,” he told Goal.

“They’re poorer than they would be normally but they’re not horrendous.

“The fourth quarter results will be pretty horrendous.

“They’ve still got a huge wage bill to pay and without matches there won’t be as much money coming in, so they will be expecting a big deterioration in the fourth quarter.”

The increase in United’s debt is down to the fact they’re still paying off deals for the likes of Harry Maguire and Bruno Fernandes.

That figure won’t have any negative effect on the club’s transfer activity in the future amid interest in the likes of Jadon Sancho, Jack Grealish and Jude Bellingham.

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Meanwhile, Woodward recently admitted that football wasn’t the club’s main focus – with United looking to protect the health and well-being of their staff.

He said: “Our focus remains on the health and well-being of our colleagues, fans and partners around the world and we are extremely proud of how those connected to the club have responded during this crisis.

“Since the start of the pandemic, Manchester United and our Foundation have provided assistance to hospitals, charities and schools in our communities, as well as support for frontline workers and vulnerable fans.

“These actions reflect our core values as a club and the resilience through adversity that we have demonstrated many times throughout our long history and will do so again to weather these current challenges.

“In that spirit, we look forward to the team safely returning to the pitch and building on the exciting momentum that Ole and the players had previously achieved, while taking all necessary steps to protect public health.

“Our thoughts remain with all those affected during this unprecedented time.”

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Woodward also thinks football can return in June – but warned there may be some problems further down the road.

“While it is too soon to know with any certainty if, or when, these measures can fully be relaxed, we are optimistic that it will soon be possible to resume playing football,” he said.

“Our Men’s first team has begun a phased return to training this week, with rigorous medical protocols in place to manage risks.

“Subject to Government and Premier League shareholder approval, including input from medical staff and players, we anticipate domestic games could restart again in June. All indications from UEFA are that the culmination of the Europa League could be during August.

“We remain in constant dialogue with the Premier League, the FA and UEFA about the next steps towards returning to play, while continuing to protect the health of our players, staff and the wider public.

“We are encouraged by the return of the German Bundesliga which was the first major European league to restart last weekend, with the successful completion of nine matches, all played behind closed doors.”

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Manchester United reportedly think Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba being played together can benefit Mason Greenwood, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. The trio have all been in sparkling form this season. And the Red Devils have high hopes for them, believing they can form the most-prolific attacking trident in the Premier League.

According to the Daily Mail, United believe Rashford, Greenwood and Martial can benefit from the return of Pogba.

The France international has been missing for most of the campaign, with injury restricting him to just eight appearances across all competitions.

Pogba is now fully fit and raring to go and United, it sees, have high hopes for the France international.

They believe he can now kick on at Old Trafford and establish himself as a success, particularly with Fernandes now at the club.

The Red Devils signed the Portugal international from Sporting Lisbon in January.

And he’s been a big success in the short time since, scoring three goals and registering three assists from eight games so far.

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United are said to be prepared to walk away from Jadon Sancho and Harry Kane transfer deals because of Rashford, Greenwood and Martial.

And they think that, with Pogba and Fernandes behind the trio, their attack will be on the right track when the Premier League starts up again.

Pogba remains determined to leave the Theatre of Dreams, with Real Madrid and Juventus both emerging as potential destinations.

But it seems like United are planning ahead with the 27-year-old very much in their plans.

The Red Devils have had numerous attacking trios over the years who have propelled them to silverware aplenty.

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Perhaps the best of the Premier League era was Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney.

They helped United win the Premier League and Champions League trophies in 2008 under the tutelage of Sir Alex Ferguson.

And they appear to think Greenwood, Rashford and Martial can reach similar heights under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s guidance.

Solskjaer hailed the three players earlier this month in an interview with Sky Sports.

“I think Mason [Greenwood], Anthony [Martial] and Marcus [Rashford] have been fantastic this season, they’ve scored up to 50 goals between them,” he said.

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“Marcus got his injury, on course for his best season, Anthony too, and Mason of course is just a unique talent with his goal-scoring ability.”

Rashford had scored 19 goals before sustaining a serious back injury in a 1-0 FA Cup win over Wolves in January.

Martial has found the net 16 times this term, one short of his best-ever seasonal tally.

And Greenwood, who only made his debut a year ago at the age of 17, has struck 12 goals across all competitions.

Whether they can restore the club to the superpower they used to be, though, remains to be seen.

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Manchester United star Scott McTominay has named Lee Grant among five vital experienced heads at Old Trafford. The Scotland international has spoken about the club’s academy talent and the youngsters coming through. And McTominay feels it’s his duty, alongside the likes of Grant, Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata, to help them take the next step up.

McTominay has labelled Bernard Di’Shon, Ramadan Largue and James Garner as the club’s most-talented academy prospects.

But the Scot feels himself, Rashford, Lingard, Mata, Matic and Grant need to help them make the step up.

“There’s a lot,” he told the club’s official website when asked to pick the finest talents on United’s books.

“You see Di’Shon [Bernard], Largie [Ramazani], Jimmy [Garner], you see Mason [Greenwood], obviously, coming in and Mason’s on his way to being established.

“He’s not quite at that level of being a regular first-teamer, and that’s what Mason has to strive to become.

“He’s one of the most talented players that I’ve seen for a long time – his left-foot, right-foot shooting is ridiculous.

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“For me, it’s my responsibility – Marcus [Rashford], Jesse [Lingard], the more experienced ones like Juan [Mata], Nemanja [Matic], [Lee] Granty, for example – we’ve got to take a responsibility now to push these younger boys and get them up to a level where it’s justifiable that they’ve reached their potential.

“For everyone at the football club, that’s the primary goal as well. It’s the same for myself: I’m getting pushed by the coaching staff every single day.

“Obviously. Harry Maguire, Nemanja, Paul [Pogba], they’re such influential players that you have to learn from every day.

“If the boys don’t take responsibility for their own careers, it can pass you by quickly.

“The boys who have come into the first team this year from the younger age groups have been an absolute credit.”

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Grant has only made one first-team appearance for United but it seems he’s vital behind the scenes nonetheless.

McTominay isn’t the first United star to make noise about Garner.

Speaking recently, Fred hailed the youngster and admitted he was excited about the midfielder’s potential rise to the fore.

“They are great players,” he said, when asked about both Mason Greenwood and Brandon Williams.

“The club has an important role in using many base players, it has this history of using the kids that come up from the base, it stays in the professional and makes history in the club, and this process is important.

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“They are great players, with a lot of potential for the future.

“All are very good, they are not in the professional for nothing. But what impresses me most is Jimmy Garner.

“Not because he is in the same position as me, but he is a player who has an impressive vision of the game, has a huge future for United.

“In addition to the impressive game vision, he always plays with his head up, has an impressive kick, an incredible pass.

“He is a player that I admire a lot.”

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Paul Pogba will provide Real Madrid with exactly what they are missing at the moment – a midfielder who can score and create goals. That’s the belief of former France international Christophe Dugarry, who thinks Zinedine Zidane will make another move for the Manchester United ace this summer.

Pogba’s future is still up in the air ahead of the summer transfer window.

The French midfielder will be going into the final 12 months of his contract in the summer, though United have the option to extend it for a further year.

Pogba has remained coy on his future recently, though speculation suggests he will be in demand.

Madrid are still interested, as are Juventus, but the Spaniards want him to lower his salary demands.

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Pogba currently earns more than any Madrid player, and Fiorentino Perez will apparently refuse to pay him what he currently earns.

Madrid have fallen behind Barcelona in the table this season, mostly due to their lack of firepower.

They have scored 49 goals compared to Barca’s 63, but are still just two points behind the league leaders.

And Dugarry thinks Pogba could be the answer to Madrid’s problems, as he would be able to provide the goals needed to leapfrog the Catalans.

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Speaking to Spanish outlet AS, Dugarry said he believes Madrid will likely make another move for him once the window opens.

“We have all observed that this [current squad] is aging a little,” he said.

“It is [a team] that has problems projecting, breaking lines and reaching the second line when there are centers.

“Pogba can do it. He is a boy who can score goals.

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“For me, he is the ideal boy to give Real Madrid what is missing.

“A year has passed that has been difficult for him, because he has injuries and his team does not walk well, but every time he has been able to play, he quickly recovers his level.

“Knowing Zizou, if he was in love with Pogba, there is no reason for him to be gone a year later.”

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Manchester United cannot focus solely on signing youngsters in the transfer market, says transfer expert Duncan Castles. United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has previously stated how he wants the club to focus on bringing in young and hungry players who can bring an “x factor” as well as “humbleness”. Last summer United brought in England centre-back Harry Maguire, Crystal Palace right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Wales winger Daniel James.

Two of United’s top targets heading into the next window are Borussia Dortmund’s England winger Jadon Sancho and Birmingham City’s 16-year-old sensation Jude Bellingham.

However, Castles believes United’s squad needs more “surgery” than a few top youngsters to catch the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City.

United were a staggering 35 points behind Liverpool when football was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in March.

Castles believes United need more signings similar to that of Bruno Fernandes, who arrived from Sporting Lisbon in January.

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“You would think there is more surgery required than just adding two or three younger players who still have a lot of development required of them,” Castles said on the Transfer Window podcast.

“The team needs leadership and it needs more quality.

“What was a success, or what has been a success, is the Bruno Fernandes deal.

“They bought a proven, experienced, mature player who came into this side and I think had a look around him and thought: ‘Well I’ve been the best player in the team I left and the best player in the league I left, and I come into a dressing room and it looks like I’m the best player here’ and has stepped up and improved the team as a result of that confidence in his own abilities.

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“The development required there was only one of adaptation to another league.

“So only focusing on young players? It looks nice, it can work financially but is it enough to turn the team into challengers for the league title? I’m not so sure about that.”

Meanwhile, Ian McGarry says a positive of signing younger players is Champions League qualification may not have to be a necessity.

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• Man Utd could sign top transfer targets without Champions League

“Intriguing that the targets that we know Manchester United have identified – Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund, just turned 20,” McGarry said.

“[Fode] Ballo-Toure, various centre-halves as well, but all under 25, Jude Belliningham.

“These are guys who, if United missed out on Champions League qualification for next season, they’re not going to be too worried about their careers and playing Champions League football during the time that they spend at Manchester United.”

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