Bruno Fernandes has been a revelation since joining Manchester United from Sporting Lisbon in January, scoring three times and registering four assists in nine appearances in all competitions.
In time, the 25-year-old could become one of the leading attackers in the Premier League.
There is an argument that Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne is currently the outstanding attacking midfielder in England's top flight and potentially European football as a whole.
Indeed, the Belgium international has put up incredible numbers since arriving at the Etihad Stadium and has played a leading role in the club winning back-to-back Premier League titles.
Here, Sports Mole looks at how the duo stack up against each other during the 2019-20 season, with Fernandes's numbers at Sporting taken into consideration.
GOALS
© Reuters
De Bruyne has managed nine goals at club level during the 2019-20 campaign, with eight of those coming in the Premier League. Somewhat surprisingly, the Belgium international has registered just one Champions League goal this term, though, while he has scored just once in the Premier League in 2020.
Fernandes, on the other hand, has 18 goals in all competitions. The Portugal international managed 15 in the first half of the season for Sporting before scoring three for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side since his arrival.
Interestingly, 15 of Fernandes's goals this season have come when starting as an attacking midfielder, while he also has a record of two goals in three appearances from central midfield.
As for De Bruyne, four of his goals during the 2019-20 campaign have come from a starting position of central midfield, although he scored a brace off the right against Arsenal back in December.
In terms of the Premier League, Fernandes has a record of 0.40 goals per match, which is superior to De Bruyne's 0.31. Both of the United attacker's league goals this season have come with his right foot, while De Bruyne has managed six with his right and two with his left during the current campaign.
ASSISTS
© Reuters
Both players boast seriously impressive numbers in this category, with Fernandes managing 18 assists during the 2019-20 campaign while De Bruyne has 20. Seventeen of the City attacker's assists have come in the Premier League, while Fernandes has four assists for United since arriving during the January transfer window.
It is difficult to compare the two players in the Premier League, but Fernandes's pass completion in England's top flight since arriving is 76.5% while De Bruyne's is 81.7%.
Fernandes has posted 272 passes in the Premier League, while De Bruyne has 1,470. The United attacker has also managed 93 passes forward in his five appearances, which is incredibly impressive considering that De Bruyne has 418 in 26 outings in England's top flight this term.
ALL-ROUND PLAY
© Reuters
Fernandes has managed 19 shots in the Premier League this season, with seven of those on target. Again, considering that De Bruyne has made 21 more appearances, the Portuguese's numbers are strong.
De Bruyne has registered 23 shots on target from 76 attempts in the league this term, handing the Belgian a shooting accuracy of 41.8% while Fernandes's is 50%.
Fernandes has also already had 387 touches and provided 25 crosses, while De Bruyne has 2,116 touches with 244 crosses, and it would be fair to say that the Belgian's delivery from a wide area, particularly in open play, is among the best in world football.
Neither player has picked up a red card in the Premier League this season; De Bruyne only just has more yellow cards (2) than Fernandes (1), though, while the former has only committed 23 fouls, which is testament to his timing and reading of the game.
Fernandes's leadership qualities are not in doubt, having worn the armband for Sporting before leaving in January; the 25-year-old has also not been afraid to ruffle some feathers since moving to Old Trafford. De Bruyne, on the other hand, has captained City on just three occasions in all competitions this season.
DEFENCE
© Reuters
For all the criticism that has been aimed at United this season, Solskjaer's side have conceded just one Premier League goal since Fernandes's arrival, and it would have been zero had David de Gea not taken too long on the ball against Everton at Goodison Park, subsequently allowing Dominic Calvert-Lewin to score.
The Portugal international has also been part of two Premier League clean sheets this season, while De Bruyne has been part of just five for City, who have had their problems at the back.
Fernandes's record of five interceptions is also impressive considering De Bruyne has just 12 in 21 more appearances, while the former has made 10 tackles to the latter's 34. The United attacker's record of nine clearances in the Premier League this season is also excellent as De Bruyne has just 20.
De Bruyne's average tackles per game this season is 1.2, while he has been dribbed past, on average, 1.6 times per game. Fernandes, on the other hand, had an average of 2.3 tackles per game in the league for Sporting earlier this season, but he has been dribbled past 3.8 times per game, on average, in his five Premier League outings for the 20-time champions thus far.
