The stats prove Bruno Fernandes is Man Utd's most important player

Despite Manchester United's struggles this season, one consistent has been Bruno Fernandes' form. The Portugal international may have polarised opinions at Old Trafford over the course of the campaign but Fernandes has again proven to be their top performing player. 

At the time of writing, no player has registered more key passes than Fernandes (108) in Europe's top five leagues this season. He is the only player to have reached triple figures for chances created in the Premier League. Granted, he may have just seven assists to his name but that's down to the profligacy of his teammates rather than his own ability to create for others. 

In recent weeks, Fernandes has really shone for Erik ten Hag's side. He's made nine key passes in back-to-back league matches - no player has created more chances than Fernandes in a Premier League game this season - while he's recently boosted his goal haul to 10 for the campaign. 

In what has been a topsy-turvy campaign for United, Fernandes continues to shine in the final third. As one might expect, Fernandes is presently the best rated player for Ten Hag's side having earned a WhoScored rating of 7.40 for the FA Cup finalists'. In addition, he also tops the Premier League form rankings, recently taking Cole Palmer's spot in first after his sub-par showing against Tottenham in midweek. 

Unsurprisingly, some might as go as far to say that he is United's most important player, and the stats do back that up. As per the above, Fernandes is United's top rated player, with compatriot Diogo Dalot (6.97) second. A rating difference of 0.43 is the biggest between first and second for Premier League teams this season. 

For Chelsea, Palmer is their most important player, with a rating difference of 0.31 to Conor Gallagher the second biggest, while the division's best rated player - Arsenal's Bukayo Saka - comes in at third with a 0.29 difference between himself and captain Martin Odegaard. Compared to the two London sides, though, United's difference from first to second is a gulf. 

Considering the rumours surrounding Ten Hag's future at Old Trafford, a new man in charge may seek to build his side around Fernandes, even with the United skipper turning 30 in September. What's clear is that the Portuguese star still has the means to positively impact this United side, and that needs to be maximised if the Manchester giants are to undergo a successful rebuild.