Manchester United are reportedly ready to ramp up their summer transfer plans as they close in on appointing Michael Carrick as their permanent manager.
Reports emerged that Man United are now ready to offer Carrick a full-time two-year contract, with the option of a third year, after Sir Jim Ratcliffe approved his appointment.
Carrick has earned the right to hold the job on a full-time basis, having led the club from sixth when he took over to what looks likely to be a third-placed finish in the Premier League.
With Champions League football already secured and Carrick’s future seemingly being decided imminently, attentions off the pitch can turn to how INEOS are going to give the 44-year-old a squad that is capable of competing strongly in the Champions League alongside their Premier League campaign.
United Eye Premier League Experience
One of the Red Devils’ key transfer strategies has been to look at players with Premier League experience. They did this last summer when they signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford respectively.
United are also targeting many players who have played in England’s top tier as they look to rebuild their midfield, including West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes.
It is reported that United have been in talks with representatives of West Ham midfielder Fernandes for 4-6 weeks over a potential summer switch to Old Trafford.
It seemed like something that could be off the table, or unaffordable at least, if the Irons retained their Premier League status, but that is looking more uncertain now.
What is certain is that either the Irons or Tottenham Hotspur will be playing Championship football next term, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s men currently two points adrift of Spurs in the standings with two games to go.
Fernandes Keen on United Move
TEAMtalk have reported that the 21-year-old is very keen on a move to United, where he would link up with one of his idols in Portugal icon Bruno Fernandes.
They claim West Ham would want £80m to sell the newly-capped Portugal international, but the feeling is that the fee would drop if the club was demoted to the second tier.
A former head of analysis on X has described Mateus Fernandes as being ‘elite’, and he has now shown his outstanding midfield traits in successive Premier League seasons for West Ham and Southampton.
Despite being just 21 years of age, the Portuguese midfielder has not only shown maturity and composure despite his tender years, but he also has great quality.
He is physically strong and tenacious, but he is also technically strong, often showing his quality in possession.
Fernandes has shown he can play across a range of midfield positions, which has led to the same analyst describing him as a hybrid of Rodri and Bernardo Silva, who have dominated midfields at Manchester City for years.
Arsenal Also Interested
Arsenal are also keen on Fernandes, but the presence of Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford could be a factor.
With Champions League football already secured and Carrick’s future seemingly being decided imminently, attentions off the pitch can turn to how INEOS are going to give the 44-year-old a squad that is capable of competing strongly in the Champions League alongside their Premier League campaign.