How Manchester United could line up with Bruno Fernandes: £64m man will help Ole Gunnar Solskjaer break down packed defences in a No 10 role... but Jesse Lingard and Andreas Pereira face the chop
* Manchester United are trying to iron out a £64m move for Bruno Fernandes
* Talks took place in London last week with foundations of a deal in place
* Attacking midfielder Fernandes would help United break down packed defences
* Incisive passing and an impressive goal return are his stand-out attributes
* Fernandes likely to play No 10 role usually held by Lingard or Pereira
Manchester United appear to be edging towards the £64million signing of the Sporting Lisbon and Portugal midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
As Sportmail revealed last week , United executives Ed Woodward and Matt Judge met with Fernandes' agents and Sporting president Federico Varandas in London for talks over a deal worth £50m plus add-ons.
Now reports in Portugal suggest the transfer could be sewn up before Sporting take on Benfica in their Lisbon derby match on Friday with the main terms of the deal already in place.
But what will 25-year-old Fernandes offer United and where would he line up in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's team?
What position does Fernandes play?
Fernandes may wear the No 8 shirt for Sporting Lisbon but his true role is as the classic No 10, dictating things just behind the forward line.
It's in this attacking midfield role that Fernandes feels most comfortable and is most effective when it comes to making full use of his attributes.
But on occasion, depending on the formation being used, Fernandes has occupied a slightly deeper role in central midfield.
Very infrequently, he has appeared for Sporting on the left side of the midfield but it's the central attacking midfield role we're most likely to see him in.
What are the strengths of his game?
Fernandes has a well-honed game for a 25-year-old with many strings to his bow. He's young enough to continue learning new tricks as well, which he'd certainly have to do at United.
His sense of positioning is impressive while his tactical intelligence has been noted in his development into one of Europe's most dangerous midfielders.
Having idolised and modelled his game on the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Andrea Pirlo and Zinedine Zidane, Fernandes has developed methods to break down even the most stubborn defences.
This may come courtesy of an incisive through pass, spreading the play to a wide player in space or a long-distance shot of his own.
Fernandes scores his second goal for Sporting Lisbon against Vitoria on Saturday night
Fernandes packs a potent strike from range, which will no doubt prove useful and spectacular, and his goal returns from midfielder are certainly impressive.
This season, he has scored 15 goals and created a further 13 in all competitions for Sporting, while last season he ended up with 31 goals and 18 assists.
United will obviously hope he can replicate those kind of returns but what they really need is a player that can help them break down the packed defences that give them so much trouble at Old Trafford.
Solskjaer's side have excelled against teams that come and attack them because they're so strong on the counter, but have often struggled against more negative, 'smaller' sides.
They will hope that Fernandes will help them pick the lock one way or another.
Are there any areas of his game that could be improved?
The physicality of the Premier League could prove an issue for Fernandes as it has been noted that he is pushed off the ball quite easily. Such an issue was noted during his time in Italy earlier in his career.
He may have to beef up a little bit to avoid being brushed aside by some of the strong central midfielders and centre-halves he will come into contact with.
And there are also justifiable concerns about his own discipline. Fernandes was booked 16 times last season (though he wasn't sent off) and has seen a yellow card nine times this campaign (with one red).
The Portuguese Primeira Liga does use the Video Assistant Referee, so at least Fernandes is accustomed to that, but he may want to watch his step a little in the Premier League.
How will he fit into the United side?
Solskjaer goes for a 4-2-3-1 system in the majority of United games, so Fernandes is most likely to play in the middle of the attacking three behind the centre forward.
This season, we've usually seen Jesse Lingard or Andreas Pereira occupy this position, so you'd expect a £50m+ arrival like Fernandes to move above them in the pecking order.
He'll typically have Marcus Rashford, currently in great form, to his left and Daniel James to his right, with Anthony Martial ahead as the centre forward.
The two holding midfielders behind him, who would be Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba when they recover their fitness, would take care of the defensive work so Fernandes doesn't have to.
United hope Fernandes will work well in tandem with Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial
In the short-term if he becomes a United player quickly, Fernandes will probably start with Fred and Nemanja Matic behind him.
The No 10 position is undoubtedly one that United needed to strengthen. Lingard has struggled for form for a long time and hasn't scored in the Premier League since Solskjaer's first game in caretaker charge in December 2018.
There have long been question marks as to whether Pereira is a United calibre player and his performances this season haven't done him many favours. He has also now been linked with a move to Lisbon as part of the Fernandes deal.
Another possibility is for Fernandes to play behind a forward three of Rashford, Martial and James in a 4-2-1-3 with the two holding midfielders in behind.
HOW UNITED COULD LINE UP WITH FERNANDES
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