I think Bruno Guimarães is the best central midfielder in the league. One could argue that a fit Rodri is better, but I’ll always pick a midfielder like Bruno Guimarães over Rodri because I think he’s a far better watch before we get to his qualities. I’m amazed he’s stayed at Newcastle for as long as he has. This is a player who should be playing for a side that’s challenging for the biggest titles, and it seems like Arsenal are going to give him just that because Manchester United don’t seem interested.
He can pass, cover ground, win his duels, score goals, take set pieces, and inspire a team over the line. He screams a Manchester United player, and I’m a bit disappointed that we haven’t been strongly linked with him this summer. I think we could use his quality and experience. I know that most will baulk at his age, but I think he can give us four good years at the very least, and if United, for some reason, aren’t successful in four years, it won’t be because they got one of the best midfielders in the league to Old Trafford.
Luka Modric joined Real Madrid as a 27-year-old, Fernandinho joined Manchester City as a 28-year-old, and Yaya Toure joined Manchester City as a 27-year-old. These are a few examples, but I could give you other examples of players like Bernardo Silva and Paul Scholes, who got better as they got older. My point is that good central midfielders are hard to come by, but those who can impose their game on the opposition are especially rare at any given time. It’s something that Arsenal, who just won the league, are lacking. Arsenal, I’m sure, are aware that a weak league helped them get over the line this year, and that they can sit on the top table for only so long without a midfielder who can take the game to the opposition.
I know who the alternate targets on this list are going to be, and I like all of them, and I think a mix of any two of them with a player like Mainoo in the ranks would be a pretty solid midfield with decent depth, but I don’t think they’re what Bruno Fernandes is to United, what Van Dijk and Alisson have been to Liverpool, what Rodri and Haaland have been Manchester City, and what Bruno Guimaraes has been to Newcastle. They remind me a bit of Chelsea’s better players like Moises Caicedo, Enzo Fernandez, and Joao Pedro. They’re good, but they aren’t a fit Cole Palmer or Reece James.
I think United need more players with the sort of quality that Bruno Fernandes possesses in his role. I think the only other player who has shown the potential to be that is Senne Lammens in goal. We need more players of top quality and soon. Bruno Fernandes won’t be able to keep this up for long, and there’s no guarantee we’ll make the Champions League spots without adding a lot of quality, never mind winning the league. I’m hoping the decision makers at United are keeping an eye on the Brazilian, but I’m doubtful.
