Man Utd already have 'intelligent' player lined up ready to replace Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United have identified Sporting CP star Pedro Gonçalves as a top candidate to replace Bruno Fernandes, should the club captain accept a £100 million move to Al Hilal this summer.

Gonçalves, 26, has been a standout performer under Rúben Amorim in Portugal and is seen as a natural successor to Fernandes, both in playing style and leadership potential.

According to ESPN, United are considering activating Gonçalves' €80 million (£68m) release clause to bring the attacking midfielder to Old Trafford.

Nicknamed “Pote,” Gonçalves has been instrumental to Sporting’s success, scoring 16 goals and assisting 9 in the 2024/25 season. His versatility — able to operate as a No. 10, wide forward, or deep-lying playmaker — makes him a tactical fit for Amorim’s 3-4-3 system.

“Pedro is one of the most intelligent and efficient players I’ve coached,” Amorim once said. “He understands space, tempo, and pressure like few others.”

The pair share a strong relationship, having won the Primeira Liga and multiple domestic trophies together at Sporting. That bond could prove crucial as United look to beat off interest from other clubs, including Liverpool and Atlético Madrid, who have also tracked Gonçalves.

With Bruno Fernandes reportedly nearing an exit, Amorim is pushing the club’s hierarchy to move quickly, fearing competition for his former midfield general could intensify after the Euros this summer.

“Gonçalves doesn’t have the name recognition of Bruno — yet — but his numbers and consistency speak volumes,” said Portuguese analyst Pedro Sepúlveda.

United are expected to fund the move through outgoing transfers, including Fernandes, Rashford, and potentially Jadon Sancho. The club is also exploring a structured deal that would involve upfront and performance-based instalments.

If signed, Gonçalves would become the second Sporting star to follow Amorim to United, with further links to defender Gonçalo Inácio and winger Marcus Edwards.

For United fans hoping to see a modern rebuild built on cohesion and identity, Pedro Gonçalves may be the clearest signal yet that Amorim’s era is fully underway — and that United are no longer shopping for stars, but for system players who fit.