The urgency at Old Trafford is being heavily driven by Carrick, who is determined to overhaul his options following the departure of Casemiro. With limited senior central midfielders available, Fernandes fits the profile perfectly after his rapid development.
However, United’s reluctance to spend heavily risks leaving the squad threadbare. Speaking about the transfer window, Carrick said in May: “There’s obviously work to do. I know it’s quite obvious, there’s certain players leaving, that there’s a bit of work to do. It’s not any more important, this one, than the last one, or it’s what’s ahead of us as a football club to try and make the most of.”
