{"id":178264,"date":"2025-06-12T11:29:14","date_gmt":"2025-06-12T11:29:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/178264\/"},"modified":"2025-06-12T11:29:14","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T11:29:14","slug":"manchester-united-have-the-green-light-to-make-major-bruno-fernandes-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/178264\/","title":{"rendered":"Manchester United have the green light to make major Bruno Fernandes change"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the addition of Matheus Cunha, Man United captain Bruno Fernandes could be set for a permanent position switch.\"BrunoBruno Fernandes looks set to operate in midfield next season.(Image: Giuseppe Maffia\/NurPhoto via Getty Images.)<\/p>\n

Following the capture of Matheus Cunha and their ongoing pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, Manchester United’s attack is set to have a very different look to it next season.<\/p>\n

United<\/a> secured the services of Cunha<\/a> on the opening day of the summer transfer window after triggering his \u00a362.5million release clause and have now set their sights on trying to land Brentford star Mbeumo<\/a>, who is keen on sealing a move to Old Trafford<\/a>.<\/p>\n

United had an opening offer for the Cameroonian turned down last week<\/a>, understood to be worth \u00a355m, but talks between the two clubs have remained ongoing and an improved is expected to be made once the transfer window reopens next week.<\/p>\n

If the Reds extract Mbeumo from the Gtech Community Stadium, they will inherit a player who scored 20 goals in the 2024\/25 Premier League<\/a> campaign. Cunha has arrived at Old Trafford on the back of a 17-goal season.<\/p>\n

With that said, both would occupy starting berths in M16, immediately forcing their way into Ruben Amorim’s<\/a> first-choice XI. Cunha is expected to operate from the left-sided No.10 role and Mbeumo from the right.<\/p>\n

The latter predominantly plays as a right-winger at Brentford but often drifts inside, taking up central positions. His versatility means that he should easily adapt to operating in one of the two playmaker roles in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 system.<\/p>\n

As a result of Cunha and Mbeumo potentially occupying those two positions, Bruno Fernandes<\/a> and Amad, who often operated as the two No.10s in 2024\/25, would have to be deployed elsewhere. Fortunately, both players are versatile enough to operate from different areas of the pitch.<\/p>\n

Fernandes is comfortable operating as a No.8 and Amad<\/a> is equally effective as a right wing-back. And if Fernandes is tasked with making the centre of midfield his permanent residence, he would be only too happy to do so, admitting just over a year ago that he imagined himself operating from a deeper position as his career progressed.<\/p>\n

\"BrunoBruno Fernandes is open to playing in a deeper role.(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA\/Getty Images.)<\/p>\n

“In terms of passing, game organisation, defence, tactics,” Fernandes said, speaking in March 2024. “I have a little thought in my head that I’m going to end my career further back, because everyone who started there and went to No.10 ended up retreating on the field at the end.<\/p>\n

“It’s a position I like, playing deeper, facing the game more. With the ball, it makes my game a lot easier because I have a broader view of the game and it is ideal for what we’ve talked about with the last pass, which can sometimes come from deeper on the pitch.”<\/p>\n

Fernandes proved on countless occasions in 2024\/25, particularly this side of Christmas<\/a>, that he is a more than capable operator from the centre of midfield. He enjoyed an excellent run of form between late-January and the March international break, scoring nine times.<\/p>\n

If Fernandes is tasked with making one of the two No.8 positions his long-term role, United will have to ensure they find him a suitable midfield partner to compliment his qualities. Manuel Ugarte blew hot and cold in his first season at the club and doubts have been raised about his ability on the ball.<\/p>\n

In addition to wanting Mbeumo and a striker, United also remain keen to sign a new midfielder. However, outgoings will dictate what it possible over the course of the summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Following the addition of Matheus Cunha, Man United captain Bruno Fernandes could be set for a permanent position…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":178265,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8813],"tags":[748,873,393,4884,2465,423,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-178264","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-manchester","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-bruno-fernandes","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-manchester","13":"tag-manchester-united-fc","14":"tag-uk","15":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/114670165410364702","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178264","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=178264"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/178264\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/178265"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=178264"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=178264"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=178264"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}