A “wonderful” midfielder has now made a significant decision regarding a potential move to Manchester United in the January transfer window.
Man Utd need long-term replacement for Bruno
Bruno Fernandes has continued to be a talismanic figure for the Red Devils, captaining impressively and maturing into a more experienced head alongside younger teammates.
The Portuguese is now 31 years of age, however, and while his durability and lack of injury problems means he should be able to go on for plenty more years, United have to make sure they have a plan in place to find a successor eventually.
Bruno now has less than two years remaining on his current Red Devils deal, with Fabrizio Romano providing an update about a potential release clause.
“Manchester United don’t want to comment, but other sources confirm there is a release clause – although not the value reported, that one is not confirmed yet. In terms of next summer, nothing at all has been decided. He is fully focused on Manchester United.”
Man Utd target makes big transfer call
According to The Mirror, Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jobe Bellingham has decided against joining Manchester United in January, having “no interest” in heading to Old Trafford on loan for the time being.
The Englishman only joined the Bundesliga side in a £27m move in the summer window, but he has struggled for playing time, being linked with a move away in the process.
Bellingham is the type of player who United should be viewing as a possible Bruno replacement one day, albeit in a slightly more disciplined midfield role, with the 20-year-old following in the footsteps of his brother Jude by heading to Dortmund in the summer.
He starred for Sunderland last season, playing an important role in them sealing promotion from the Championship to the Premier League, and not only has he been compared to Frank Lampard by former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel, but he is loved by his teammates.
“Listen, Jobe’s a wonderful player. I’m one of his biggest fans, more than his dad. Don’t tell him that. I think Jobe’s wonderful,” Sunderland’s Luke O’Nien said last season.
“He’s a wonderful addition. He even comes in at half-time to give his perspective. That’s how much he’s grown into the game. Even though he’s not playing, he’s in at half-time. We’re asking for his perspective on the game because he’s a leader in our team.”
Bellingham is still so young that United shouldn’t consider this the end of the saga, and if he manages to get back on track and reaches his potential in the coming years, he needs to be viewed as a fantastic midfield option, bringing the box-to-box quality that Bruno does.
