According to reports, Manchester United is ahead of Liverpool in the race to sign Enzo Fernandez.

According to Bruno Andrade, the Red Devils are incredibly interested in the player and are willing to pay the astronomical €120 release clause in order to avoid competition.

Fernandez was one of the best players at the most recent FIFA World Cup.

He was an integral member of Argentina’s squad, directing play from midfield.Fernandez is a River Plate academy graduate who made his debut in 2019.The 21-year-old is frequently paired with Florentino Luis in a central midfield position.

Excellent with his feet, Fernandez excels at moving the ball forward from the back. He assumes the role of the cunning actor.

His vision is superior, and he is highly resistant to pressure. When necessary, he can play a bit further forward due to this ability.

His defensive skills distinguish him from his competitors.

Before an opponent’s chance is created, Fernandez assumes crucial intercept positions and is adept at detecting potential threats.

He would be the ideal replacement for Frenkie de Jong for Ten Hag.

The United manager favors a skilled midfielder who can facilitate the transition from the first to second phase of play.

At age 21, Fernandez has the potential to become one of the world’s best midfielders.

United must take the risk, despite the fact that the deal appears to be a tad excessive given the player’s talent.

Erik ten Hag, manager of Manchester United, will not let World Cup heartbreak derail his team’s fight for a top-four finish in the Premier League.

ERIK TEN HAG will not let the World Cup serve as an excuse for any of his stars failing to hit the ground running when the race for a top-four spot resumes.

Ten Hag had 13 players in Qatar – only champions Manchester City had more, with 16, and the United manager feared it would put his rebuilding plans on hold.

But that doesn’t mean the Dutchman will settle for anything less than a flying start when they return to domestic action on Tuesday against Nottingham Forest.

This includes Argentina’s World Cup-winning center back Lisandro Martinez, who has spent the past few days celebrating the team’s victory.

“We all knew the restart was five or six days after the final, and everyone has to be ready and accept it,” Ten Hag insisted.

“The manager and coaching staff of course, but also the players – they have to accept it as well if they want trophies.

“We talked about the tough competition, but we have to be prepared for it and deal with it. We must proceed with caution in order to achieve the desired performance and results.

“We have a plan for all the players, and it’s all individual based. Nobody is the same, and no one has the same program or minutes. It is determined by the positions and their ages.”

Martinez and French defender Rafa Varane are the only two players who have yet to return to training after spending the entire tournament in Qatar.

Both will be evaluated before ten Hag decides whether or not to play against Forest, and his selection is also contingent on Harry Maguire’s recovery from illness.

“I’m not sure yet,” Ten Hag added. I was unable to respond. Martinez is still partying in Argentina, which I understand.

“Winning the World Cup for your country is the highest you can be – but he also has to accept that the Premier League returns on the 27th.”

United return to Premier League action one place outside of the Champions League spot, but with a game in hand on Tottenham.

Ten Hag understands that a top-four finish is the bare minimum if he hopes to attract the world’s best players to Old Trafford in the summer.

It means that the United manager is under more pressure than any of his peers to command a seat at Europe’s top table – a burden he relishes.

“I accept how it is, I accept the pressure,” he admitted. But also for the managers of Chelsea and Newcastle United, two clubs that have made significant investments in their squads.

“We’re all under a lot of pressure to make the top four. That is our goal: to be in there fighting for trophies.

“We are aware the competition is tough but that also counts for the seven or eight clubs fighting for the top four.

“For anyone watching the Premier League, it is great for them, it’s very exciting for them. I’m looking at how we’re doing in the process.

“Of course, we have to get the results, but the process is correct, we are making progress, and I believe we have a good opportunity and a good chance to make the top four.”

Meanwhile, United are already planning their pre-season tour for next summer, which will almost certainly take them to America.

The final details are still being worked out, but they are set to return to the United States for the first time since 2018, most likely to the West Coast.