Bruno Fernandes may have scored a superb hat-trick against Ipswich Town but he is not Manchester United’s most valuable player. A 28-minute Bruno Fernandes hat-trick ...
Bruno Fernandes may have scored a superb hat-trick against Ipswich Town but he is not Manchester United’s most valuable player.
A 28-minute Bruno Fernandes hat-trick helped Manchester United to a 5-2 win over Ipswich Town in the Premier League.
Fernandes’ penalty record was put under a microscope after he missed in pre-season, but he drew United level from the spot and then scored twice after the break to complete a third hat-trick of his United career.
The Portuguese playmaker is riding the wave from his PFA Player of the Year win and he deserves all the credit, but in today’s market, Kobbie Mainoo is outlining himself as a £150 million player.
Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images
This summer’s transfer window has been full of crazy, big-money deals. Morgan Rogers, Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali have all been sold for £100 million or more.
It has certainly been an interesting window for central midfielders; an area that United in particular have been strengthening through deals for Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba.
But out of United’s four midfield options, Mainoo is standing out as the best of the bunch.
Mainoo’s match stats vs Ipswich were nothing short of extraordinary. He won more duels than any player on the pitch and in possession he was calm under pressure and created several chances by beating players and finding teammates in space.
Compared to the prices paid for other Premier League players this summer, it is not ridiculous to consider 21-year-old Mainoo a £150 million player.
Mainoo’s improved defending under Michael Carrick means he has no flaws. He would get into every team in the Premier League and he is only showing signs of getting better and better.
Mainoo’s performances in 2026 continue to shine a light on Ruben Amorim’s bizarre treatment.
Amorim froze Mainoo out of the squad, starved him of minutes and was ready to sanction a sale of the Carrington graduate.
Incredibly, Mainoo had a £40 million price tag. Forty. Million.
Eight months later, Mainoo has enjoyed a resurgence under Carrick and proved that he is undroppable for United.
Anything under a £150m bid (should) now be laughed at by United chiefs. If he was sold for a quarter of that amount in January, it would have been one of the worst transfer mistakes made by the club.
