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It has been reported that Manchester City sporting director Txiki Begiristain recently met with Sporting Lisbon to discuss the availability of attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, who has been one of the most in-form players across Europe this season.
The Portuguese international has scored an incredible 28 goals and assisted a further 15 in all competitions for Sporting in the current campaign, which appears to have caught the eye of the reigning Premier League champions.
However, with David Silva, Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Phil Foden and Riyad Mahrez all currently at Pep Guardiola’s disposal, do City need yet another attacking midfielder?
Who would win out of Man Utd’s treble winners and Man City today? Fans discuss in the video below…
We put the question to the writers of Football FanCast, and here’s what they had to say on the matter…
James Beavis
“They certainly don’t need to sign him. If Pep Guardiola wants to secure a long-term David Silva successor this summer then a move for Fernandes makes sense. Given his stats this season, he could be even better than Bernardo Silva. That said, he shouldn’t arrive instead of a more defensively-minded midfielder, as that is one of City’s biggest weaknesses now when Fernandinho isn’t on the pitch.”
Matt Dawson
“Manchester City don’t need to strengthen in many areas but Bruno Fernandes would be an absolute stellar signing for Pep and would also be the heir to David Silva’s throne should he sign. The Spaniard has had a fantastic season, but he’s not getting any younger; with De Bruyne now preferred in a deeper role, Fernandes could shine just behind the striker. His ability to pick a pass and find the back of the net is quite something.”
Luke Glanville
“I don’t think there are many players Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City need to sign based on their current squad, but if there are, Fernandes isn’t one of them. The Portugal international would be a bit of a needless luxury signing for me – see Riyad Mahrez. He would obviously get along nicely with Bernardo Silva and may be part of a new Portuguese alliance at the Etihad. But when it comes to recruiting in the summer, City must look for a holding midfielder first.”
Harry Sherlock
“No. City need a replacement for Fernandinho, and Bruno Fernandes is too much of a playmaker to fit that bill. Bringing him in would only serve to over-stuff a midfield already filled with genuinely world-class talent. David Silva is ageing but he has shown this season that he still has it. Pep Guardiola needs to concentrate on a completely different area of his team this summer – signing Fernandes would do nothing to solve the ‘Fernandinho issue’.”