Gedson Fernandes linked with move to English Premier League

Sky Sports News are reporting that Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes could be on his way to England as soon as this January.

Fernandes, 20, is said to be a top target of Manchester United, who could bring in the talented box-to-box midfielder in the winter transfer window.

Any deal could, according to the English news outlet, start out as a loan move, with United then having the potential to make the transfer permanent for £35million at the end of the season - much less than his £100million release clause.

Fernandes has struggled to make an impact at Benfica this season, playing just 6 of Benfica’s league matches this campaign, only starting two.

Who is Gedson Fernandes?

While his impact this season for Benfica has been minimal, he comes with a big reputation and high expectations in his home country. Still just 20 years of age, Gedson is already a full senior international, having already earned two caps for Portugal.

Both his outings for his country came in 2018, one a two minute stint in a friendly clash with Croatia, another a 22 minute showing against Scotland where he marked the match with an assist.

Fernandes is therefore highly regarded, and his lack of game time doesn’t come from a lack of ability, but rather a perceived inability to fit in centrally in the 4-4-2 formation that Benfica manager Bruno Lage has been deploying since his arrival.

While a central midfielder by trade, his lack of physicality means that playing in a two-man midfield is not something Lage has been willing to try out extensively, with Adel Taraabt and Gabriel more frequently chosen as Benfica’s duo in the middle of the park.

It means that Fernandes, who is an incredibly versatile player, has been utilised in various other positions, playing on the right and left midfield and even as a second striker throughout the campaign as something of a makeshift replacement of Joao Felix.

For Gedson to play in his primary position, playing for a side opting for a three man midfield is likely far more accomodating for the young Portuguese, alongside one or two more physical ball-winning players to give him the license to roam.

In terms of his style, Fernandes is, as is the case with many Portuguese midfielders, a technically gifted footballer, possessing strong dribbling and passing ability, capable of providing that link between defence and attack by fulfilling the role of a box-to-box midfielder.

That comes from the fact that he not only has that capability to carry the ball forward with great purpose and intent, but also has a good understanding of the defensive game, both willing and capable of tracking back to regain possession.

His defensive capabilities have been further illustrated in matches where Benfica are looking to defend a lead; against AEK Athens in the 2018-19 Champions League group stage, for example, Gedson operated as a defensive right winger, covering for Andre Almeida to nullify AEK’s attacking potency down their left wing.

The main area of his game, however, is ultimately his attacking prowess, with his adventurous runs from deep likening him to another recent Benfica academy product in Renato Sanches, while he also has that link-up play to serve as an accomplished attacking midfielder.

One good example of his offensive capabilities was against Eintracht Frankfurt in Benfica’s 4-2 victory in the Europa League last season. Pace, movement and forward running made him a handful for the Frankfurt defence and ubdoubtedly contributed to Joao Felix’s stunnign hattrick, his off the ball awareness opening up opportunities for Felix to capitalise.