According to the Manchester Evening News, Fulham is interested in signing Manchester United star Fred as he is approaching the final of his contract at Old Trafford.
The two teams recently met in the last Premier League match, with the Red Devils winning 2-1. After the game, Fulham manager Marco Silva was seen speaking with Fred in the car park.
A suggestion has been made that United should consider a direct swap between Fred and Palhinha. Last year, the Red Devils exercised a one-year extension on Fred’s contract, allowing him to become a free agent in June 2024.
To improve their squad, Erik ten Hag’s side needs to be more strategic in their transfer activities. It is advised that they capitalize on their peripheral players and use the funds generated to improve their team.
Fred is primarily recognized for his tireless work rate and ability to cover the entire field. However, his ball skills are considered to be quite limited. Under the guidance of Ten Hag, the Brazilian has been predominantly utilized in matches where United is expected to focus on off-the-ball work.
Fred has been a starter in notable victories against Manchester City and Barcelona, two teams are known for their possession-based style of play.
It is suggested that United should leverage Fulham’s interest in Fred and propose a direct swap involving Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese defensive midfielder would be an excellent addition to the current United squad.
This season, the midfielder has recorded the highest number of tackles (147) in the Premier League, with Moises Caicedo following closely behind with 100 tackles.
Having joined Fulham last summer for an initial fee of approximately £17 million, Palhinha’s exceptional debut season in England has significantly increased his value to £40 million.
Even if United needs to add £10-20 million on top of Fred, the transfer deal would still be advantageous for them.
