da dobrowin： Could 2026 be the year that Manchester United skipper Bruno Fernandes walks off into the sunset?

da mrbet： Perhaps, finally, after over half a decade of carrying a club and an institution on his back, the Portugal international might decide that enough is enough, having already hinted at the prospect of moving on to pastures new in the near future.

There have been 196 goals and assists in 307 games. There have been just three matches missed through illness or injury, according to Transfermarkt. And yet there have only been two trophies, with the truly top honours still eluding Fernandes and United in this turbulent post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.

The 31-year-old, of course, is not blameless for the depths this team have plummeted to, he is captain after all. That being said, there is a sense that the Red Devils could have sunk even lower, had the playmaker not gripped them by the collar time and again.

Be it this summer, or next, Fernandes’ departure will leave a void akin to that of Cantona, Keane, Ronaldo and Rooney. How do you replace the irreplaceable?

How Manchester United can replace Bruno Fernandes

One of the ‘problems’ of Fernandes’ aforementioned omnipresence and reliability is that rarely has a team been put out without him in it, making it an even bigger task when trying to understand whether United will sink or swim in his absence.

In fairness, in recent years, any time the midfield genius has been rotated, it has not gone to plan. You only have to look at the first-half debacle at Grimsby Town for an obvious case in point.

While Ruben Amorim has pointed to Kobbie Mainoo as being the direct competitor to the captain among the current crop, it might take outside influence for a proper successor to be found.

There is of course the likes of Adam Wharton, Carlos Baleba and Elliot Anderson being touted as options to bolster Amorim’s midfield ranks, although one wildcard contender could be Anderson’s teammate, Morgan Gibbs-White – a boyhood United fan.

The Englishman – who was linked with the Old Trafford side back in March – has been described as the “most similar player” to Fernandes out there by one analyst possessing that same talismanic, maverick quality down at the City Ground.

With his creative quality and tendency to scorn a teammate for a failed pass or missed chance, there certainly are shades of Fernandes about the ex-Wolves man, ensuring he could be a worthy replacement.

That being said, if INEOS are to set their sights a tad higher, why not seek out the real cream of the crop?

Man Utd could sign "best midfielder in the world" to replace Fernandes

There was time when you looked to Man United’s midfield as the benchmark. From Bryan Robson, to Roy Keane, to Paul Scholes, to even latterly Michael Carrick, there was always a master at work to be found.

Fernandes’ best work, prior to this season, has often come in a more advanced berth, with United lacking that real all-action, box-to-box presence behind him.

There’s been Paul Pogba, there’s been Donny van de Beek, there’s been the maligned duo of ‘McFred’. It simply hasn’t worked.

Casemiro, set to turn 34 in February, has shown flashes of class and quality, but INEOS might need to look to Real Madrid again to find a proper solution. Why not Jude Bellingham?

Now, it may appear laughable to suggest that the Englishman will leave the Bernabeu any time soon, although recent reports suggested that United were launching a club-record bid of £130m for him, after missing out on his signature back in 2020.

Those at Old Trafford rolled out the red carpet trying to entice a then 17-year-old Bellingham to join from Birmingham City, albeit with the teenager ultimately plumping for the guarantee of game time at Borussia Dortmund.

Now at Madrid, whom he joined back in 2023, the 22-year-old is a Champions League winner and among the very best in the world in his position.

Bellingham vs Bruno – last 365 days

Sta (per 90)

Bellingham

Bruno

Non-penalty goals

0.25

0.21

Assists

0.27

0.32

Shot-creating actions

4.36

6.43

Pass completion

87.3%

76.2%

Prog. passes

7.46

9.78

Prog. carries

2.44

2.17

Successful take-ons

1.70

0.68

Tackles

2.44

2.37

Interceptions

0.88

0.64

Stats via FBref

In the view of Newcastle United counterpart, Bruno Guimaraes – speaking a few months ago – he already is the “best midfielder in the world”, ensuring he could even represent an upgrade on Fernandes, not least considering he tops the Portuguese in a string of key metrics.

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Bizarrely a bone of contention at international level, it really is folly for anyone to doubt Bellingham’s talent. At 22, he has already played at three major tournaments and earned 46 caps, while scoring that vital overhead kick against Slovakia at Euro 2024.

Much in the mould of Fernandes in seemingly relishing the limelight, the Stourbridge-born monster has made himself a star in Spain, racking up 74 goals and assists in just 119 games to already cement his place among Britain’s best-ever exports.

That success has come in a more advanced starting berth, but this is a man who can do it all, having typically been deployed deeper during his time in Germany.

It would take some convincing to lure him away from Los Blancos, but the chance to emerge as the centrepiece of the United project might prove too good to turn down.

Few, of course, will relish the challenge of having to follow a figure like Fernandes, but Bellingham might well just be one of them.

Man Utd could sign Bruno replacement who's "the most underrated CM in Europe"

Manchester United look set to make a move for one player should Bruno Fernandes depart.

ByEthan Lamb