Not all of Manchester United’s transfer decisions are as effective as the incredibly shrewd move to sign Christian Eriksen on a free.
In recent seasons United have frequently missed chances to sign players on the cheap, and then trying to buy them for far higher prices later on.
Moises Caicedo was a player United could have landed for just £4.5 million in January 2021. He signed for Brighton, who this week were claimed to be demanding £85 million, The Mirror report, suggesting interest from United.
A similar situation is occurring this summer, with Argentine newspaper Ole reporting in April that Manchester United had scouted River Plate midfielder Enzo Fernandez.
Sadly that is as far as United’s interest went. Fernandez signed for Benfica in a deal Fabrizio Romano reported cost as little as £8 million.
Manchester United revive interest in Enzo Fernandez
Fernandez has been absolutely sensational for Benfica since joining, with the Portuguese side topping their Champions League group this week ahead of PSG.
This week 90Min report Manchester United have revived interest in Enzo Fernandez and are continuing to scout him, claiming the club are watching him ‘closely’.
Newspaper Sport reported this week his valuation is now already around £44 million – while he also has an astronomical release clause in his contract above £100 million, which runs until 2027.
It would have been far simpler for Manchester United to simply buy Fernandez this summer. But as we saw with Caicedo, the club don’t seem too keen on making these gambles.
Perhaps, however, the club have learned from the Caicedo saga, that having made the initial error, the quicker it can be rectified, the cheaper it will be.
£44 million would be a cheap deal, still, if United can get Fernandez next summer. Wait an extra year, if it even takes that long, and Benfica might be demanding more like £80 million.
Fernandez, 21, has three assists in his last five games for Benfica, and is averaging 93.5 passes per game this season, with a 90 per cent completion rate, per WhoScored.com.
He made his Argentina international debut in September and is hoping to land a place in the World Cup squad. It may be cheaper for United, if he doesn’t.