Frenkie de Jong is still likely to be Erik ten Hag&aposs preferred option but given Xavi sees him as Sergio Busquets&apos long-term successor and the player has named Barcelona his &aposdream club&apos in the past, this still seems incredibly unlikely. United, therefore, need to look at alternatives.
One such player is Benfica&aposs Enzo Fernandez who has played a starring role for Argentina during the World Cup. He lifted the trophy with his national team and was also named Young Player of the Tournament, winning the award against tough competition like Josko Gvardiol.
But should United move for the midfielder? If they have the funds available, the answer is a simple yes.
Benfica will likely ask for Fernandez&aposs release clause to sanction a move, which amounts to over 100m. This would be a massive return on the 12m they spent in the summer to bring him to Portugal from River Plate.
At 21, he is already showing a level of ability beyond his age in the centre of midfield, much like United target Jude Bellingham has for England and Borussia Dortmund. He is able to help his team keep control of the ball in possession, which is something Ten Hag is looking for.
He also has a great defensive work rate, meaning he could help United&aposs defenders avoid being caught out by counter-attacks and in transition.
The only issue is that like many of the top young midfielders in world football, every top club is in the market for one. Liverpool have been heavily linked with a move for the Argentinian in recent weeks and so have Real Madrid as an alternative to Bellingham.
