Where would Manchester United be without Bruno Fernandes?

Last season, while Michael Carrick engineered a turnaround of epic proportions but had they not had the Portuguese maestro in their side, Champions League football would not have been secured.

It was a jaw-dropping season from the midfielder. He surpassed a record held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne to register 21 Premier League assists.

Yet, in the current campaign, he's not quite reached those same dizzying heights just yet.

Why Bruno Fernandes is quietly having a good season

Fernandes is still the main man at Old Trafford but criticism has been aimed at him from some quarters.

Indeed, the 32-year-old has only scored three Premier League goals and they all came in the same game, netting a hat-trick against Ipswich Town.

On the assist front, he is struggling. Bruno only has one to shout about. In that regard, he's been below par. However, the statistics still showcase that Fernandes is up there with the best. In fact, for passing, he is still the best.

He has completed the most passes in the final third (122) of any player in the division this term, while he's also made the most successful passes into the penalty area of any player (17).

Back at home, he's also outranking his teammates across a number of metrics, perhaps most notably chances created and distance run.

So, even if the output isn't quite there just yet, particularly as far as assists are concerned, Fernandes is still on course to have a really impressive season at United.

Still, at the age of 32, he is getting no younger and a replacement may well be required before too long.

How Man Utd can replace Bruno Fernandes in the transfer market

The summer transfer window was a busy old time for Carrick and Co as they looked to improve United's midfield.

Fernandes is now surrounded by a fine crop of talent. Not only does he have Kobbie Mainoo for company but Youri Tielemans has impressed since arriving at Old Trafford and they still have Carlos Baleba to blood. That's not forgetting Brazilian Andrey Santos either.

So, surely they won't sign another midfielder? Think again.

According to reports in Italy, via Sport Witness, Scott McTominay could genuinely be on his way back to Manchester. Yes, you read that right, the Scot is of interest to INEOS just two years after leaving for Napoli.

The Italian side received enquiries from both Aston Villa and United over the summer but the Naples side view a 2027 exit more realistic.

It's suggested that it could take just £25m to extract him from southern Italy and what a signing this could be if they were able to lure him back to the Premier League.

Supporters may have their doubts but McTominay has quickly become "one of the best midfielders in Europe" in the words of BBC pundit Rory Smith.

At Napoli, the Scotland international has established as the Diego Maradona of the modern era, he is their Fernandes. Kevin De Bruyne may well now be playing in the light blue but it is McTominay who has become the talisman of this team.

He may not be as creative as Fernandes - McTominay created just 0.71 chances per 90 last term - but his performance levels have been just as inspired.

As Napoli won Serie A in 2024/25, the Scot scored 12 goals and supplied six assists in the league. In all competitons he found the net on 13 occasions.

While his side may not have won the league again last time out, the former United man still enjoyed an incredible season on a personal level, scoring 14 times.

So, for goals, he's closely matching what Fernandes has been able to do throughout the years at Old Trafford. The skipper scored as many as 19 in 2024/25 but in the two years prior to that, he scored 14 times and then 15 times. Last season, the Portugal international bagged nine in all competitions.

When it comes to finding the net, the two are now extremely alike. McTominay is capable of the spectacular too. He's scored an outrageous overhead kick for Scotland in recent years and his scissor kick goal to win Napoli the league in 2025 was remarkable.

Now 29, the midfielder's game has developed significantly since he left United behind as something of a scapegoat. If he were to return to Manchester now, he'd be viewed as more of a hero. That's how much his game has come on in the last two years.