Manchester United have a midfield shortlist spanning over 20 names right now, if reports are to be believed, but now Roy Keane has shared an exciting verdict on one potential signing.
Midfield is set to be where Manchester United spends the majority of this summer’s transfer budget, with countless names linked as more are to be expected.
United have narrowed down the list recently into first-choice options, who will be directly replacing the outgoing Casemiro, as opposed to being signed as depth.
Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, and Sandro Tonali are considered in that bracket. But Roy Keane thinks one of the more secondary targets is actually already better than Casemiro right now.
Roy Keane gives Mateus Fernandes verdict
Casemiro’s exit once his contract expires in June kick starts the summer of midfield revolution at Old Trafford, of which Mateus Fernandes looks likely to be part.
The West Ham United and Portugal midfielder has been superb in Nuno Espirito Santo’s relegation-battling Hammers side. Now, Keane has claimed that Fernandes is actually better than Casemiro already.
Keane played a game of ‘this or that’ with Premier League midfielders for The Overlap.
Fernandes was the first name asked, against Bournemouth’s United linked Alex Scott and Keane chose the West Ham ace.
He was then asked about another United-linked player in Carlos Baleba, or Fernandes, to which he also selected the Portuguese star.
Then, Keane was faced with choosing either Fernandes or Casemiro.
“Casemiro’s coming towards the end, Fernandes”, he admitted.
Keane’s praise for Fernandes didn’t stop there as he also beat some of the league’s leading midfielders in the legendary United midfielder’s eyes.
- Mateus Fernandes over Ryan Gravenberch
- Mateus Fernandes over Enzo Fernandez
But he ended the run by picking Bernardo Silva over Fernandes.
Mateus Fernandes is the next best thing after Elliot Anderson for Manchester United
It was widely reported that Anderson was United’s number one target this summer, and so if the Nottingham Forest star is unavailable, Ineos can’t completely abandon this plan.
Fernandes is stylistically similar to Anderson, albeit probably a better and more creative passer, but the signing would represent United targeting a style rather than just any big-name midfielder.
At 21, Fernandes has his best years ahead of him, and United would be really silly not to offer West Ham £45m the moment this season ends, or slightly more if they aren’t relegated.
This would be a really exciting signing for United and one that would see the midfield revolutionised with his intensity, passing, and mobility.
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