Erik ten Hag must make £60million sacrifice to unleash Manchester United's best player

Nobody at Manchester United needed to be reminded exactly what Bruno Fernandes can do during the season's first international break. However, the Portugal sensation offered up a five-star nudge anyway.

With two goals and three assists for his country in back-to-back Euro 2024 qualifying wins, the United playmaker was very much a shining light as Portugal maintained their 100 per cent push to Germany next summer. It took his senior tally to 33 direct goal involvements in 59 caps since making his debut in 2017.

But the impact a statistically brilliant Fernandes has - for club and country - is not just down to numbers. He is the heart and soul for both teams and Erik ten Hag must avoid sacrificing him to solve an ongoing problem.

United deployed the 29-year-old on their right flank in eight matches last season, particularly in big games. Aside from a creditable draw at Camp Nou - although United ought to have won - and defeat to neighbours Manchester City in their FA Cup showpiece beneath the famous Wembley arch, it was a winning experiment.

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Fernandes scored four goals and recorded as many assists in those outings and, generally speaking, the results he helped United get were positive. Ultimately though for Ten Hag and his squad to recapture their potency in front of goal when they return to domestic and European duty, Fernandes must remain (almost) front and centre.

"I play wherever the coach needs me to play," said Fernandes after playing on the right against Real Sociedad last season. "It's not my position, but I