Manchester United have the “green light” to sell Paul Pogba now they have signed Bruno Fernandes, according to BBC Sport pundit Danny Murphy, per talkSPORT.
What’s he said?
United paid a £47m fee to bring the Portugal international into the club in the January transfer window.
He has hit the ground running, too, scoring three goals and registering two assists in six outings for the club.
Murphy has been impressed with the way he has applied himself since his switch from the Portuguese club and he believes it has opened the door to United shifting the France international.
Pogba has made just eight appearances thus far this season due to injury issues and has not played for the club in the Premier League since the Boxing Day win over Newcastle United.
He has been repeatedly linked with La Liga giants Real Madrid – per Sport via The Sun – and Murphy believes United can now give the go-ahead to such a transfer.
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Asked about Fernandes, he said: “He is sensational.
“He’s got a great shot on him, he’s got a brilliant delivery at set plays, he’s athletic, he glides across the pitch, he’s quick, he’s got great awareness, he’s very brave. He goes hunting for the ball, he takes the ball into dangerous areas and he puts himself in positions on the pitch where he is very dangerous.”
And he added: “The fact he’s adapted so quickly has given United a better chance of getting in the top four, and I think it also means United now have the green light to say: ‘let’s let Pogba go’.
“You really wouldn’t want to keep Pogba and play him as a holding midfielder.
“Fernandes’ best position is as part of a midfield three or in front of two holding players. They can build the team around this fella, he’s that good!
“I wouldn’t be worried now [about losing Pogba], because Fernandes will score and make more goals.
“He’s more effective and more productive than Pogba. His numbers will be better than Pogba’s at Manchester United, I think – 100 per cent.”
Too attacking
Pogba is not a holding midfielder, as Murphy suggests, and needs players alongside him who will work with him and allow him the space to press forward and create openings.
Fernandes is not going to do that, not through any limitations, but through his ability to affect proceedings in the final third.
Throughout his time at Sporting, he scored 63 goals and registered 52 assists in 137 games for the Portuguese club and is primarily an attacking midfielder. He has shown already that he can hit the back of the net, scoring against both Watford and Everton in the Premier League.
While fans may get excited about the prospect of Pogba and Fernandes in the same team, one feels that the United defence would subsequently be left without the required support network from the midfield.
It simply wouldn’t work and the 42-year-old is probably right; United may have found their replacement for the World Cup winner.
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