Man Utd could lose their club captain in the summer transfer window and would need to find a replacement.
How do you replace a player like Bruno Fernandes? The harsh reality is you probably don't. Well, not directly. The Manchester United captain is not only a huge contributor in terms of attacking output, but he is also the standard-bearer at the club, the most consistent performer, and the one to lead by example, even amid all the turmoil.
The fact that he ended last season with both 19 goals and assists as United finished 15th is quite frankly absurd. If he had a few more trophies in his cabinet, he would be up there with the greatest to ever put on a United shirt. It is that drive for major honours at the age of 31 that could persuade him to leave in the summer.
Fernandes has already insisted he won't decide anything until after the World Cup, and while United are keen for him to stay, there is still strong interest from both Europe and Saudi Arabia. Whether they manage to qualify for the Champions League could be a crucial factor. Even then, the Portugal international wants to win the famous trophy, and will only stay if that is a genuine possibility.
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United might already have their Fernandes replacement
Okay, it is a sexy headline. Manchester United do not have another player who can do all that Bruno Fernandes does, but they might already have the player who would replace him in the starting line up. Of course, we must reiterate that the preference is for him to stay, but United won't stand in his way if he wants to leave.
Fernandes sent a timely reminder of just how influential he can be in his favoured attacking midfield role in the derby win over Man City, and he will be deployed there until the end of the season. It wasn't exactly genius thinking that United would play better football with their best player used in his best position.
He is not the only one who is best in that role, though. Matheus Cunha shone from the bench in the derby triumph, but he too would be an ideal fit for the attacking midfield berth as part of their new 4-2-3-1 formation. The 26-year-old is happy to play wherever the team needs him during his debut season, but in the long-term, there is already a belief that he will be the eventual successor to Fernandes through the middle because of his own creative threat.
Cunha is very forward-thinking in possession and always looks to move goalward whenever he has the ball at his feet. He is also a master dribbler, someone who can create space seemingly out of nowhere on the edge of the box and punish any opponent with his unpredictable variety of finishing. When you throw his pace and passing into the mix, plus his ability to press, you have the making of an elite modern attacking midfielder.
This season, he has already shone as both an attacking midfielder and a false nine under Ruben Amorim, but looked a little lost when used on the right of a front three under Darren Fletcher. He is clearly better in a central position, where he can enjoy more of the ball and use his dribbling ability to go either side of an opponent. The current issue is that he might not get to do that much since the recent formation change.
While he was always guaranteed a starting role in Amorim's favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, he is not as natural a fit on the left wing in a 4-3-2-1 and is behind Fernandes for the attacking midfield role. Cunha can still expect to be deployed on the flank in certain matches, while he could also be used as the false nine in a fluid forward line without Benjamin Sesko. But he might have to wait until the summer to be given playing time in his best position.
United are expected to be in the market for a left winger in the summer, regardless of who their next permanent head coach might be, which could further reduce the opportunities for Cunha as a starter. It might well be that he ends up replacing Sesko as the furthest forward attacker, but if Fernandes should leave, it will be in the attacking midfield role he is used.
United hope they don't have to replace Fernandes, but if they do, Cunha might already be the solution.
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