Manchester United have landed a player within the Frank Lampard mould with their €55 million (£47m/$60m) signing of Bruno Fernandes, says former Sporting boss Carlo Carvalhal, with the Portugal international thought-about to be “from another planet” and “another level” to countryman Joao Felix.

Those at old Trafford hope that the big-money addition will deliver on it billing and slot seamlessly into the fold underneath Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Fernandes definitely seems to tick lots of boxes for the Red Devils, who are crying out for additional power and management within the middle of the park.

Carvalhal expects the 25-year-old to thrive in English soccer, with there similarities to be found between his game and that which once saw Lampard become an iconic presence at
Chelsea.

“He is actually superb,” ex- Sheffield Wednesday and Swansea boss Carvalhal told talkSPORT of Fernandes.

“He may be a player from another planet, the planet of Portugal is extremely tiny to him in this moment, he’s an extraordinary player.

“Bruno is the best player within the league, he’s miles ahead of the others.

“He is a complete player, and if you ask me to match Bruno with a player, i’ll say Frank Lampard.

“Last season was fantastic, he scored twenty league goals, the season before he scored eleven and this season he has eight goals and 7 assists, and this is often a midfielder, not a winger or an attacker.

“He has excellent deliveries in free-kicks, makes superb assists, he’s an athlete. He’s not a number ten, he’s an eight in my opinion, he’s a worker, a box-to-box player.

“He conjointly reminds me of Joao Moutinho, who I had at Sporting. i feel Bruno Fernandes is totally different, as a result of he has additional goals, however they have one thing in common – they understand the sport very well. he’s very organized, he’s always talking.

“He is twenty five years old, he’s within the Portugal 1st XI and he would be an incredible addition in my opinion.”

Carvalhal was slightly stunned to see Fernandes demand such a hefty selling price when departing his native land, however concedes that’s now the way of the world and that United’s latest addition may prove to be a more robust acquisition than a winner of the prestigious golden boy award at Atletico Madrid.

“About cash, I don’t know too much, however once Benfica sold-out Joao Felix to Atletico Madrid for €126m, the fans of Sporting will look to that and think: ‘Come on, €65m isn’t enough!’” Carvalhal added.

“Bruno Fernandes is another level to Joao Felix in my opinion, but I don’t know if Bruno at nineteen years old was identical level as Felix is currently.
“But he’s a prepared player, he’s a whole player.”

Fernandes might be offered the possibility to make an immediate impact at United, with Solskjaer’s side making ready to take in an exceedingly Premier League home date with Wolves on Saturday.