Manchester United are now frontrunners in the race to sign Fred.
Manchester United endured a horrific night on Tuesday but they are now looking to bolster their midfield options for next season. Shakhtar CEO Sergei Palkin has confirmed that their prize asset Fred will be moving to England to play for one of the Manchester clubs this summer and United are now the favourites. Fred, who has been impressive for Shakhtar in the Champions League this season, had been the subject of interest from Manchester city but it now looks like their rivals on the other side of Manchester have entered the race. “Fred will leave in June. If not to Manchester City, then to Manchester United.”
Fred is a defensive midfielder who Pep Guardiola is a big fan off and feels he could be a long-term replacement for Fernandinho. City tried to get the deal done in January but it was put to the back of the list of priorities when they decided to sign Laporte from Athletic Bilbao. Sources from inside City say they have now gone cold on Fred and while the deal is not dead, they will be assessing other options in the summer. Julian Weigl has been scouted intensely by Manchester City and he now looks like the more favourable option.
This clears the way for Jose Mourinho to try to sign the talented Brazilian midfielder. Mourinho has identified centre midfield as a position he wants to strengthen in the summer and Fred would be a great addition to Mourinho's squad. Fellaini looks set to leave in the summer and with the veteran Michael Carrick retiring at the end of the season it means Fred would definitely be of interest to the 20-time champions.
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Fred is a highly energetic midfielder with a great passing range. He has completed 443 passes in the champions league this season and boasts an 85% completion rate. A statistic that definitely has not gone unnoticed in the eyes of Pep Guardiola. He is also a great dribbler and often uses this to get himself out of tricky situations in the centre of the pitch. City were favourites to sign the midfielder but Palkin has thrown spanner in the works with his comments and United fans will now be fancying their chances of landing the Shakhtar midfielder.
Fred's Shakhtar crashed out of the champions league on Tuesday night after a 1-0 defeat to Roma. Fred had scored a stunning free kick in the first leg and he looked like Shakhtar's best player in the tie. Whatever side of Manchester he ends up on there is no doubt he will be a great addition to the premier league.
