Danny Murphy has expressed his regret at Liverpool not signing Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon in the January transfer window, per talkSPORT.
What’s he said?
The Portugal international moved to Manchester United in the winter window, with the Reds’ bitter rivals paying an initial fee of £47m to bring him into the club.
Fernandes has already managed to hit the ground running, scoring three goals and registering two assists in six outings for the club.
He was clearly an immense talent during his time at Sporting, too, scoring 63 goals and registering 52 assists in 137 games, while he has also won 19 caps for his country.
Murphy, though, says that a number of clubs will be kicking themselves for failing to acquire the 25-year-old, including Jurgen Klopp’s men.
He said: “Manchester United have got an absolute superstar and I think everybody else has missed a trick.
“There’s always a place for quality, isn’t there?
“I think there’s an argument that Manchester City have got more than enough attacking players.
“But Liverpool? Woo! Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but yeah, that would have been great.
“He’d have a chance of getting in Liverpool’s three, that’s for sure.”
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A dynamic presence
Fernandes could well have added a genuinely dynamic presence to Liverpool’s midfield.
They lost their first game of the Premier League season at the weekend, going down 3-0 to Watford at Vicarage Road, and played a midfield of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Fabinho, and Georginio Wijnaldum.
They have scored 12 goals between them, while Fernandes has netted 18 across his times at Sporting and United in 2019/20.
The Portuguese could have been the tip of the spear behind Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane, offering a real threat from the centre of the pitch.
It is not really known if Liverpool were ever particularly interested but Murphy is right; United have done an excellent deal here.
Fernandes would, undoubtedly, have improved this Reds team.
Meanwhile, Liverpool need to let this man go!
