Man United are heading towards another pivotal summer transfer window.
Enzo Fernandez up against Manchester United
Enzo Fernandez up against Manchester United
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As Manchester United attempt to claw their way back to the summit of English football, each summer transfer window seems to become even more important than the last. The 2025 summer window was crucial after United finished in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
To their credit, United managed to bring in players who improved them instantly. Bryan Mbeumo has been excellent, Senne Lammens has brought a calmness to the defence and Matheus Cunha has also enjoyed some good spells of form.
But the rebuild has a long way to go. The midfield will be the priority at the end of the season after Casemiro brought an end to the speculation around his future by confirming his exit at the end of the campaign.
His exit will leave a sizeable hole in United's squad and the club must get their next central midfield signing right. And they will have to do so while the majority of the world's elite are playing at the World Cup.
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The pinnacle of a footballer's career, the World Cup often complicates matters for domestic clubs as they attempt to complete their summer business. But it can also throw up some unexpected opportunities.
Players who had previously flown under the radar can suddenly find themselves front and centre on the world stage. James Rodriguez was the name on the footballing world's lips at the 2014 World Cup and he earned a move to Real Madrid just weeks later.
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At Qatar 2022, it was Enzo Fernandez who earned the chance to take the next step in his career as he left Benfica for Chelsea in the following month's transfer window. But the Argentine's move to Stamford Bridge should be seen as a warning to United if they try to snap up the next World Cup superstar.
Chelsea's first error in the deal for Fernandez was failing to realise how difficult it would be to sign the World Cup winner. Benfica had no intention of letting the Argentina international leave in January and held all the cards thanks to a whopping £106.8m release clause in his contract.
The Portuguese club continuously claimed Fernandez was not for sale and thus the release clause would need to be met to allow him to leave. Chelsea wouldn't take no for an answer and that stance came at a high price.
Chelsea unveil new signing Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez was a late arrival at Chelsea in the January transfer window(Image: (Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images))
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The majority of the world's best players will be competing in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer. If a player performs well for their nation, as Fernandez did in 2022, their valuation skyrockets overnight.
United are working hard to make the term 'United tax' a thing of the past, and they must ensure it is not replaced this summer by the 'World Cup tax'.
Fernandez's form from the World Cup did not translate immediately to the Premier League. "Honestly, I think the pace of the Premier League isn’t played anywhere else in the world. I couldn’t cope," Fernandez has since admitted.
"In the first year, I felt like I just couldn’t keep up. I wasn’t feeling well, and I even suffered injuries and everything. That’s when the work began. I started contacting trainers until I found the right one. I felt good for two or three weeks, and over time, I started seeing results and feeling good on the pitch."
Enzo Fernandez of Argentina poses for a photo with the FIFA Young Player award after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final
Enzo Fernandez poses with the FIFA Young Player award after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final(Image: ulian Finney/Getty Images))
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Fernandez's transfer is starting to look like a good bit of business by Chelsea, but United do not have the luxury of time on their hands. Whoever they sign to replace Casemiro needs to hit the ground running.
United's summer transfer plans have been in the works for a while now, and although it can be tempting to get the chequebook out when a player shines at the World Cup, United must stick to their long-term plans.
It's something they've done well of late but this summer's World Cup could be their biggest test yet.
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