Manchester United and Manchester City both need him – but where will this £45m-rated star go?
Manchester United and Manchester City have been harbouring an interest in signing Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder, Fred, for the longest time now. And as per a report from ESPN, the club’s chief executive has admitted the same and has confirmed that Fred will, in fact, leave the club in June. If that does happen though, it will thrust United and City into the transfer window battlefield once more.
The two Manchester sides recently locked horns regarding Alexis Sanchez’s transfer in the January window. Jose Mourinho ultimately triumphed but to be fair, City do not really need new attackers at this point. The Chilean attacker may not have lived up to expectations at Old Trafford but it will be interesting to see if the Portuguese gaffer can once again land Fred ahead of Manchester City. However, if he can do that, there is absolutely no denying that it will prove to be a welcome move for United.
Estimated to be valued at £45m, Fred is a defensive-minded midfielder but he can support the attack quite well. And United have lacked a player like that for the longest time now. They do have Nemanja Matic, who has proven to be phenomenal ever since he moved from Chelsea. But Paul Pogba has been absolutely shambolic when asked to play a deeper role while Ander Herrera has blown hot and cold throughout the season so far. Meanwhile, with Michael Carrick set to retire this summer, United will need a player like Fred to play with Matic in Mourinho’s preferred 4-2-3-1 formation.
On the flipside, City could also utilize a player like Fred. They may be filled to the brim with quality attackers but when it comes to other positions, the Sky Blues could use some depth. Pep Guardiola usually employs a 4-3-3 formation, in which Fernandinho usually sits at the base of the midfield. Although he has been one of the most influential players for them this season, the club will need reinforcements to cope with the demands of the competition next term.
Hence, Fred could prove to be a useful and much-needed new signing for both of these clubs. Unlike the infamous Sanchez saga, both teams are in dire need of a midfielder with Fred’s capabilities and given the 25-year-old’s skills and potential, he can work wonders for either of the Manchester giants. Thus, it remains to be seen if they can outbid their competition to land the talented player, who has been receiving rave reviews for his performances this term.