Former Liverpool striker Peter Crouch has questioned Manchester United's swoop for Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Crouch cited the amount of big name players who have gone "backwards" during their time in Manchester which will leave a question mark hanging over Fernandes for now.

Crouch said in the Daily Mail: "Another question would be how many have actually improved after joining one of the world's biggest clubs? It is not wrong to say not one of them did. Some went backwards.

"I would love to see Fernandes buck the trend. I have watched him play for Portugal during the last 12 months and I believe he has got the star quality to be a huge presence for United. But until we see firm evidence, the element of doubt around this transfer will remain.

"There has been no logic to the way United have operated in the transfer market in recent years, you never get the sense they are buying a player to fit into a firm plan or a confirmed way of playing.

"It is almost as if they buy the star name and then hope for the best."