Scouting Report: Bernard Mensah
The next Yaya Toure could have been unearthed from a club in the Portuguese league, Bernard Mensah has been turning heads with his performance at Vitória Guimarães, the 20-year-old has been linked with a big-money move to Manchester United who need to bring in a few youngsters, but who is Bernard and what would be provide to a different Manchester United team from the Fergie era?
From Ghana to Portugal
The attacking midfielder started his career playing for Feyenoord Ghana, the Ghanaian Mensah then joined Guimarães in 2012, and he played just one season for the youth team before being sent to play for the B team. His performances lit up the team and he helped the B team to promotion, it was due to this that he was then sent to the first team.
While he scored 9 goals for the B team, his performances weren’t the greatest for the first team. He did however, score 5 goals in the season and has had a major role to play for the club. The 20-year-old was quoted as saying
“It is true that Manchester United want me. I have not spoken with anyone at Manchester United, but I know that there are negotiations with my club.”
The 20-year-old would fit with the ethos of attacking football really well at Manchester United and he seems to have a good shot on him, although he does need to increase his accuracy and consistency when it comes to shooting the ball at goal.
He is termed as the next Yaya Toure and is best when he takes the ball from midfield and runs at goal. He does have an eye for important passes as well and is known to pump the ball forward though long passes or switches play with long diagonal balls. He does have the energy to compliment his playing style which features a deep position when collecting the ball and then attacking the opposition defence.
The 20-year-old Mensah still has some distance to go before he can be considered as the complete package but unlike most youngsters who are brought into the team and then loaned out immediately, this Ghanaian would have a huge role to play this season and for the future of Manchester United. The Red Devils will have to work extra hard to ensure they get their man as West Ham are also targeting the youngster but Manchester United would be the preferred destination for the youngster.