Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit has said that Bruno Fernandes has had the type of impact at Manchester United that the club hoped Paul Pogba would have.

Fernandes only arrived at Old Trafford in January but has already played more games than Pogba this season, with the Frenchman limited to only eight outings across all competitions.

Pogba has registered only two assists in that time, whereas Fernandes has three goals and four assists in his nine games, and Petit has credited the Portuguese playmaker with changing the mentality at the club.

"Fernandes has made a huge impact. In the space of two months he is the best buy in the winter market. He has made such a big impact. It's like he's been at the club for six years," Petit told The Mirror.

"He's changed the mentality inside the dressing room. It's hard for a player to come in mid-season and do that. Paul Pogba was meant to be doing this at Manchester United. It's what he should have done in terms of leadership on the pitch.

"But I'm looking forward to seeing them together on the pitch, I want to see if that can work, and I'm pretty sure it can work."

Pogba has been heavily linked with a move away from United when the transfer window reopens as Real Madrid, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain monitor his situation.