Manchester United expert view: Tom McDermott on Bruno Fernandes, Odion Ighalo & Man Utd season expectations

While our Manchester United insider says that he and the Red Devils fans have been impressed with the early signs from Fernandes, not many expected or were thrilled with the surprise capture of Odion Ighalo on transfer deadline day.

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The fact the Red Devils waited until moments before the end of the January transfer window to replace Romelu Lukak, who left last summer, is a sign of desperation and lack of planning at Old Trafford.

Bringing in Fernandes, as good as he is, is a sign that United are no longer able to sign the elite world players, as the former Sporting Lisbon man was not chased by any of European football's giants.

And, although Fernandes will improve Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, it is too soon and too big a job for him to fire them into the to four this season.

Listen to Tom McDermott's thoughts below, or read the major topics beneath the tweet..

Bruno Fernandes

"He’s just what United needed in that midfield role with a bit of creativity and eye for a pass, we’ve probably not seen a player of that quality in that role for some years, probably going back to Paul Scholes.

The number 10 or attacking midfield role he occupies is probably the hardest to step in to as you’ve got to rely on players around you and looking for wide players to make the runs and get on the end of.

He has the creative flair but also the intelligence and desire to be there is a breath of fresh air for United."

Odion Ighalo

"The way it went about in terms of Josh King, missing out on Haaland earlier in the window and then bringing in a player like Ighalo right at the last moment just looks like extreme desperation.

"Romelu Lukaku left in the summer transfer window, so United have known they needed to replace him, but to get to the end of the January transfer window to replace a guy who got so many goals for United with a player like Ighalo is pretty surprising to say the least.

"Ed Woodward’s talked about United doing things in the transfer market that other club’s can’t, well this is certainly something other clubs couldn’t or wouldn’t want to do!

"So in general it hasn’t excited the United faithful shall we say."

Can United attract elite players?

"It’s kind of where United are – they aren’t a top tier player anymore. Bruno Fernandes is a very, very good player, but you didn’t see Bayern Munich, Barcelona or even a Man City and Liverpool going for his signature.

"He’s kind of the best of the rest and that’s the best that United can hope for now, the next best behind those elite players.

"United aren’t dining at the top transfer table any more, even though they can pay the big wages."

Who will United sign this summer?

"The summer window will be the main one, the telling one.

"Someone like Jack Grealish, he may not be a marquee name but he waltzes into our midfield and makes a positive impact. He’s a British player, he fits the mould of young British players along with Maguire and Wan-Bissaka.

"So someone like Grealish might not tick the marquee name but he’s certainly someone who would improve united and someone as far I believe who would be open to a move if his time at Aston Villa came to an end."

Where will Man Utd finish?

"We'll probably see more of the same, they’ll finish somewhere between sixth and 10th, the time to judge Fernandes will be next season.

"Remarkably, it’s still easily mathematically possible for United to make the top four but I don’t think many United fans are that daft to expect to finish in the top four this season.

"Do I think United will get into the Champions League? Absolutely not I think they’re not good enough, they’re too inconsistent I think Fernandes will take time to settle in so we can’t put it all on his door.

"If Ighalo lives in the penalty area then I think he probably will score goals but a lot will depend on Fernandes and what he can provide because that getting it wide and getting it in - the 1999 Beckham to Yorke and Cole idea - teams have moved on now there’s a lot more interchange and fluency in that final third, hopefully Fernandes can provide that but we’ll have to wait and see."

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