Man Utd in talks to sign one of Europe’s “most talented players”

It is simple to neglect that Manchester United have been a group going nowhere previous to Bruno Fernandes’ arrival, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s first full season in cost having hit the skids by that stage.

The ultimate recreation earlier than Fernandes’ £56m signing in late January 2020 had seen United lose 2-0 at house to Burnley, their twelfth Premier League defeat since Solskjaer was named everlasting boss the earlier March. They’d solely received 11 occasions in that interval.

Come the tip of 2019/20, following a Covid-disrupted marketing campaign, the Pink Devils had completed in third following a final-day win over Leicester Metropolis, with Fernandes racking up 20 targets and assists in simply his first 20 video games for the membership in all competitions.

From the outset, the Portuguese genius has been the difference-maker, and continues to be so, though now may very well be the time to attempt to ease that artistic burden on him.

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There’s been a stark reliance on Fernandes in a artistic sense at Outdated Trafford for therefore lengthy now, the 31-year-old arguably hitting his peak following a record-breaking twenty first help of the season on the weekend.

All of the deal with the captain’s heroics has masked the struggles of these round him in that regard, with no participant even getting shut by way of top-flight assists.

Certainly, guess what number of the participant ranked in second place racked up? Simply 4, courtesy of Patrick Dorgu. The gulf in that division between Fernandes and the remaining is seismic.

That would all change with new signings, nevertheless, with Italian outlet Tuttosport – by way of United shops – suggesting that talks have been held concerning a deal for Fernandes’ compatriot, Afonso Moreira.

As per the report, INEOS have made enquiries concerning a deal for the 21-year-old, albeit whereas set to face rival curiosity from golf equipment in Germany and Italy.

His present aspect Lyon, amid their ongoing monetary points, may money in for a price of simply €25m (£21m), having beforehand offered Rayan Cherki to Manchester Metropolis on an identical discount deal final summer season.

Why Moreira may very well be one other Fernandes at Man Utd

It has been no shock that Fernandes’ streak of assists has come following a string of marquee summer season signings final 12 months, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko all hitting double figures for league targets.

Extra is required creatively from each Cunha and Mbeumo, nevertheless, the pair registering simply 5 assists between them, whereas Amad’s ultimate day contribution was solely his third help and first in 2026.

That would nicely be the place Moreira makes the distinction, nevertheless, the teen having fun with a glowing particular person marketing campaign in France, following his arrival from Portugal final summer season.

Schooled at Fernandes’ former membership, Sporting CP, the promising playmaker can function all throughout the frontline, but is usually deployed off the left flank, permitting his artistic abilities to flourish in that extensive function.

In all, he ended 2025/26 with 4 targets and 7 assists in Ligue 1, whereas having created ten ‘large probabilities’ and averaged 1.2 key passes per recreation.

Fernandes, for context, was streets forward with 33 ‘large probabilities’ created of his personal, though once more, the chasm between him and the remaining was important at United, with Amad sat in second on simply seven.

Moreira won’t be at his compatriot’s degree simply but, however he may very well be nearer to Fernandes in a artistic sense than anybody else at the moment at Outdated Trafford.

Beforehand hailed as “one of the crucial gifted gamers of his era” by scout Jacek Kulig, Moreira additionally impressed in European competitors in 2025/26, scoring and aiding 4 targets in simply seven video games within the Europa League, regardless of solely really beginning thrice.

That’s all of the extra exceptional contemplating he had solely had a short style of senior soccer previous to this season, spending a lot of his time with Sporting’s ‘B’ group.

Regardless, he seems to be like one other Portuguese famous person within the making, in an identical vein to Fernandes, with the prospect there for United and INEOS to probably strike a discount deal this summer season.

Certainly, the participant who was handed his debut by Ruben Amorim in Lisbon may now be the newest participant with Sporting connections to glitter in Manchester.

It is labored out nicely for many of them…