Paul Scholes has pointed out the obvious — and unnecessary — headache that Ineos could cause for themselves involving Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United.
Bruno Fernandes has once again shown his incredible influence in the Manchester United first-team squad in the 2025-26 campaign at Old Trafford.
The 31-year-old Man Utd captain is only one Premier League assist away from moving level with Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne for the assist record.
Fernandes has 19 Premier League assists this season and 11 of those assists have come from Michael Carrick’s 15 matches in charge of United since January.
CONGRATULATIONS to Bruno Fernandes – The 2025/26 Football Writers Award Player of the Year… let us know your REACTION!
Can you name the last Man Utd player to win this specific award?
Paul Scholes shows the issue of Man Utd trying to sign Cole Palmer from Chelsea amid Bruno Fernandes’ influence
Bruno Fernandes’ form has turned around in the second half of the 2025-26 Premier League season after moving out of the deep midfield role under Ruben Amorim.
Manchester United legend Michael Carrick has been playing Fernandes in an advanced attacking position and the Portuguese maestro has been thriving.
Fernandes has been deeply influential from the No 10 role for United amid the Red Devils securing Champions League qualification and pushing for a top-three finish.
However, United have been linked with Cole Palmer in recent months and Paul Scholes has rightfully warned the Red Devils about signing the Chelsea star.
“I don’t see where he plays for United,” Scholes told talkSPORT.
“That’s a problem. I see him in a similar position as Bruno, and I think he’s not going to be as influential as Bruno is in this team.
“Whether you can play him off the right-hand side, I’d put him inside with his left foot, then get lucky.
“He’s a brilliant footballer. Again, he’s gone quiet where everybody at Chelsea’s gone quiet.
“I’m quite sure what’s on there at that club. Yeah, look, [there are] many good players who go in your team, and why not, he’s a match-winner on his day.”
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Bruno Fernandes gets another assist – the record is almost his!
Do you think he could get two in the next game vs Liverpool?!
Cole Palmer’s talents are undeniable at Chelsea, but Paul Scholes’ Bruno Fernandes point speaks volumes for Man Utd
Cole Palmer has impressed in a big way at Chelsea after coming into his own at the Blues following his 2023 exit from Premier League side Manchester City.
However, the 24-year-old Chelsea star seems like a wild-card transfer for the Red Devils right now amid Ineos needing to rebuild other areas of the United squad.
United splashed out big last summer to reinforce the attacking set-up by bringing the likes of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko to the club.
It would seem devoid of any logic for United to drop a major fee — which is what would be needed — to sign Palmer because of his unsettled situation at Chelsea.
With Fernandes in the No 10 role, Scholes is right that United would be paying for Palmer’s talent and then to only hinder his ability by playing him in another position.
Ineos should ignore the noise around Palmer and only explore the England international as an option in the shock event that Fernandes leaves Old Trafford.
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