Bruno Fernandes is valued at £139 million and for United he is priceless

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Bruno Fernandes has been a quite stunning buy for Manchester United since arriving almost 12 months ago.

United paid a £47 million fee which could eventually rise to £67.7 million. Already this looks like a bargain even if the full fee is paid.

This is no longer just suggestion. The latest Football Observatory CIES report values Fernandes at £139 million, ESPN reports.

For United, Fernandes is priceless. £139 million would not tempt United into a sale, although it should also be noted, clubs don’t have this kind of money to spend on players in this financial climate.

However, Fernandes is more or less irreplaceable. The CIES report names him as one of the world’s five most valuable players.

This highlights what great business it was for United to sign him, belatedly, a year ago. Any time a club buys a player and then 12 months later he is among the five most valuable in world football, you have struck an outstanding deal.

How can you possibly replace a player like this? It isn’t easy. Fernandes leads United for combined goals and assists since he signed and is even in the Premier League golden boot race.

Fernandes bring so much more than goals. He is the heart of the team and plays like he is the captain, even without the armband.

There is not a player in world football you would swap Fernandes for right now, especially when bearing in mind factors like age, salary, and fit. For most players, adjustment to a club and team chemistry is a gamble, an unknown factor. Just look at Chelsea’s problems this season. Fernandes fits United like a glove.

Marcus Rashford is world’s most valuable

Fernandes is one of two United players to feature in the CIES’ top five. Marcus Rashford is at number one in the list, moving ahead of Kylian Mbappe.

This follows an impressive start to the season for Rashford, who struck six Champions League goals in the group stages to further enhance his reputation.

For United to develop a player homegrown in the academy to be rated as the world’s most valuable is quite an achievement and is testament to both Rashford’s talent and the whole club.

He is said to be valued at £150 million, a fee which reflects that at 23 he can still take his game to an even higher level and will likely strike more than 100 goals for United over the next five years.

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