Man Utd Chiefs Already Know Dream Fernandes Replacement is Jude Bellingham

· GiveMeSport

He would be one of Manchester United's best ever transfers

Bruno Fernandes is still just 32 years of age and Manchester United captain, but INEOS and Michael Carrick will be well aware that, sooner rather than later, they need to find a player capable of replacing what he has brought to this team.

Man United definitely don't already have that player in their ranks, with Mason Mount being the closest candidate, but his fitness record means he can't be trusted at all.

It has ensured that Red Devils chiefs will need to look externally for the heir to their skipper, and it's a decision that Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his colleagues cannot afford to take lightly, or get wrong.

Bruno Fernandes for Man United

- Appearances: 334 - Goals: 111 - Assists: 109

It's also a decision they could be forced to make sooner rather than later, depending on how contract negotiations progress between the two parties.

Fernandes' current deal at Old Trafford runs out at the end of this season and there has been no breakthrough over a new one, but United have an option to extend it by a further 12 months if they wish to.

What is clear is that the £47m they spent to sign the Portugal international in 2020 will go down as one of their best transfers of all-time, given what he has contributed to the club from then until the current day.

His goal contribution numbers are remarkable for a club who hasn't had a lot of success during his time at Old Trafford, while his leadership qualities saw him pick up and maintain the captain's armband.

Replacing him may seem like an impossible task, and in recent months United have been linked with the likes of Chelsea's Cole Palmer, who it was suggested by some was ready to join the Red Devils as he looks to move back up north.

Palmer is clearly a quality player, but if United want to get back to where they were under Sir Alex Ferguson, then they need to show ambition and put their money where their mouth is and show the fans they mean business.

What better way to do that than to make an audacious move to sign Jude Bellingham from Real Madrid when the day comes when Fernandes is no longer contributing as consistently as he has for many years.

If United chiefs want to make a major statement in the transfer market, they have to make a big push to try to bring Bellingham to Old Trafford in the next few seasons.

The 23-year-old is clearly happy and performing well at the Bernabeu right now, but you do have to wonder if he might be tempted to come and play in the Premier League at some point, given he has never done before, having left Birmingham City in the Championship for Borussia Dortmund.

We already know that Bellingham was shown around the Carrington training centre as a 16-year-old and met Sir Alex Ferguson there, but the then teenager decided to make the move abroad to Germany instead.

United then already have some sort of relationship with the player and his father, Mark, which they could try to use to their advantage.

Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid

- Appearances: 148 - Goals: 49 - Assists: 36

Convincing the player to join might be difficult given some of their struggles in recent years, so they would need to promise him he would be the star man and the club's poster boy, which would come naturally because of his stature.

Thinking commercially, there is every chance that Bellingham would be another David Beckham for the Red Devils, because he is a world superstar who still has so much more to give. Shirt sales would go through the roof and people would be fascinated to see how he got on.

His undoubted quality was evident again during a stunning performance from the Real Madrid man in England's 7-0 demolition of Croatia on Saturday evening, which followed on from his outstanding 2026 World Cup campaign for the Three Lions.

Jude Bellingham vs Croatia

- Minutes: 90 - Touches: 108 - Goals: 1 - Assists: 3 - Chances created: 8 - Big chances created: 5 - Successful dribbles: 4/6 - Accurate crosses: 2/2 - Accurate long balls: 6/7 - Duels won: 8

Bellingham is the type of player who could help lead United back to the top of Europe's elite clubs, such are his qualities on and off the pitch.

Red Devils icon Roy Keane was certainly blown away after watching the 23-year-old in action against Slaven Bilic's men.

> I think [Jude] Bellingham could go on to become one of the greatest players of all-time.

That is huge praise coming from Keane, and Man Utd chiefs know already that he is their absolute dream Fernandes replacement.

Whether they have the ambition to go out and actually sign him remains to be seen.

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