Erik ten Hag can consider Manchester United wildcard to solve £35m transfer problem

If any Manchester United player deserves a breather ahead of the start of pre-season training next month, it is Bruno Fernandes.

He clocked up his 70th appearance of the season for club and country during Portugal's 1-0 win over Iceland in midweek. It meant he ended the 2022/23 campaign as the only player from Europe's top five leagues to have played 70 matches this season.

He missed just three of United's 62 outings, each of which were through suspension, meaning he boasts fitness levels that most players can only dream of. His durability levels are excellent and his injury record is nothing short of outstanding.

However, there comes a point where enough is enough. Despite the improved science and performance-enhanced data available nowadays, Fernandes is only human, meaning there will almost certainly be a point in his career were he risks blowing up if he continues to be pushed beyond realistic means.

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For instance, there were points during the most recent campaign that United manager Erik ten Hag would have preferred to have rested Fernandes. For example, was it necessary for him to start the 3-1 FA Cup fourth round win over Reading back in January? Probably not.

However, United lack alternative options in the attacking-midfield position, meaning Fernandes had next to no competition for his place. Donny van de Beek, who Ten Hag described as being at his best as an attacking-midfielder almost a year ago, suffered a season-ending injury in January, immediately leaving United light on a rotational option in the No.10 position.

Even without that injury, however, Fernandes would have still been without meaningful competition and a rotational option. Van de