Key Bruno Fernandes stat highlights Man United's top priority as transfer deadline looms
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Fernandes played in the deeper midfield pairing that we’ve become accustomed to seeing him play in, after the arrivals of Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in the summer, and it was the Portuguese’s lapse in concentration that left Emile Smith-Rowe free to poke home Fulham’s leveller.
After the match, one damning stat has revealed just how urgently one position needs to be strengthened ahead of next week’s transfer deadline.
(Credit Imago)
It was a rare off day for Fernandes, but it does make it two substandard performances from two games this season, and once again the midfield balanced seemed off.
According to Fotmob data, only Fernandes is the only midfielder in the top five of distance covered so far this season for United.
Of further concern is how these numbers face up against United’s Premier League rivals, with 28 players having ran further than the Red Devils pair so far across the first 19 games of the fledgling Premier League season.
It is worth caveating with the suggestion that these are early days, but United’s lack of athleticism and ground covered in midfield is an ongoing concern from last season.
The club have pursued a move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, and have monitored the situations of Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Stuttgart’s Angelo Stiller and Sevilla’s Lucien Agoume.
PlayerDistance covered per 90(km)Carlos Baleba6Adam Wharton5.2Angelo Stiller11.3Distances covered 2025-26 (Fotmob), Angelo Stiller data 2024-25 (Bundesliga)
Finances are notoriously tight at Old Trafford, and an inability to move on from Amorim’s ‘bomb squad’ has meant arrivals are limited for a team in desperate need of instant impact players.
One midfielder who may be able to solve some of the short term headaches for Amorim is Kobbie Mainoo, who is yet to play a minute in the Premier League yet this season.