Man Utd hold talks to sign “frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or”

Ruben Amorim’s treatment of Kobbie Mainoo was arguably the Portuguese’s most glaring error as Manchester United boss, although he has also been left a little red-faced following the rampant form of Bruno Fernandes in his absence.

Deployed as a deep-lying midfielder under his compatriot, Fernandes is the star attraction again in his rightful number ten berth, racking up 12 Premier League assists since Amorim’s exit in January.

On course to break the competition record, the 31-year-old has been masterful of late, averaging 3.8 key passes per game and sitting on 30 ‘big chances’ created – well ahead of Rayan Cherki in second (18).

He’s the cream of the crop when it comes to top-flight playmakers, if not the best in the league in general, although could INEOS be eyeing an even bigger talent this summer?

Man Utd have been in talks to sign former Ten Hag target

It’s gearing up for another seismic summer at Old Trafford, although the Red Devils can’t afford a repeat of 2023, having endured a costly, and arguably disastrous window under Erik ten Hag.

Following a largely positive first season for the Dutchman, United then splashed the cash on Mason Mount, Rasmus Hojlund and Andre Onana, taking a step backwards at a time when they could well have kicked on after a third-place finish in 2022/23.

Mount has since endured three injury-hit seasons in Manchester, the hapless Onana is now on loan at Trabzonspor, and Hojlund is set to sign for Napoli permanently, after netting just 14 Premier League goals in total.

The Dane hadn’t been Ten Hag’s top target at the time, however, with that honour falling to Harry Kane, a player INEOS are now set to be in the mix for again in the present day.

As noted by TEAMtalk, there is the suggestion that talks have been held regarding the 32-year-old’s future, with United said to have been kept informed over the last 12 months or so.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is said to be a key admirer, while there is a feeling that the England captain will return to these shores at some stage in the future, with one eye on Alan Shearer’s Premier League record.

That being said, in the short-term, an extension to his Bayern Munich stay is expected, ensuring United would need to pull out all the stops to tempt Kane into a change of heart.

Why Kane could be the new talisman at Man Utd next season

Fernandes, as was evident again at the weekend, is simply a genius, undoubtedly United’s best post-Sir Alex Ferguson signing and one of the club’s best signings of the 21st Century in general.

Up to 27 goals and assists for the season in the Premier League, the ex-Sporting CP appears to be getting better too rather than slowing down, showcasing remarkable levels of consistency over an extended period now.

That has also been true in the case of Kane, with the Englishman arguably enjoying an even more impressive campaign back in Munich, spearheading Vincent Kompany’s side to title glory.

The Bavarian giants may have come up short in the Champions League, although the former Tottenham Hotspur hero hit his 55th goal of the season in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Paris Saint-Germain.

14 of those came in just 13 games in Europe’s premier competition, with Kane turning it on in last week’s first-leg thriller at the Parc des Princes, having picked out Luis Diaz with a sublime, lofted pass over the top to make it 5-4 on the night.

Operating almost as a roaming, deep-lying striker, he boasts Fernandes’ creative quality but with a staggering finish prowess to match, now up to 140 goals in just 144 games for Bayern to date.

In the Bundesliga in 2025/26, he’s netted 33 times already and created 16 ‘big chances’, having scored 26 and created 11 ‘big chances’ the year prior.

In his first season in Munich, meanwhile, he scored 36 league goals and created 13 ‘big chances’, continuing the remarkably consistent, decade-long form he showcased at Spurs.

Indeed, after truly breaking into the first team in north London in the 2014/15 campaign, the academy graduate never dipped below 17 league goals up until his exit in 2023, showcasing almost unmatched levels of reliability.

He’s not been described as the “frontrunner for the Ballon d’Or” by journalist Rahman Osman for no reason, hitting heights that not even Fernandes can match for so long now.