Manchester United are sitting pretty in the Premier League top four as the 2025/26 season heads into the home stretch. Michael Carrick has taken the team up to third, and the Red Devils look like a safe bet for Champions League football, even with a tough run-in against the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool. Fans are desperate to see the club keep this momentum going and finish the campaign strongly. Recent wins have really lifted the mood at Old Trafford, but the board knows they still need fresh faces if they want to turn this team into proper title contenders next year.
Mateus Fernandes links to Manchester United
A report from The Sun claims that club captain Bruno Fernandes is pushing for West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes to be his long-term successor at United. The veteran Portuguese star is moving into the final year of his deal, which includes a 12-month extension option, but there are still question marks over his long-term future.
While United are reportedly ready to spend £80 million on a big-name defensive midfielder this summer, the younger Fernandes is a versatile option who can play almost anywhere in the middle of the park. West Ham are also facing serious money troubles, reporting record losses of £104.2 million, which might force them to sell the 21-year-old if they end up going down.
Looking at the numbers, the 2025/26 season shows just how vital both players are for their clubs. Bruno Fernandes is still running the show creatively, racking up eight goals and 16 assists in 28 league games. At the same time, Mateus Fernandes has become a mainstay at West Ham, putting in 2,399 minutes and chipping in with three goals while doing plenty of dirty work in the defensive third.
Big Setback – Man Utd star could face a lengthy ban on the sidelines
He has found a teammate with 1,198 passes at an 88% success rate, adding 81 tackles and 30 interceptions so far. It’s easy to see why the youngster looks up to the United captain, having recently called the senior midfielder his biggest inspiration in the game.
