Jamie Carragher feels Man Utd have secured a "bonus" by signing Bruno Fernandes during the January transfer window as opposed to the summer.
United have been hot on the trail of the former Sporting Lisbon midfielder for some time, but finally got their man on Thursday as he sealed his £67.8million switch to Old Trafford.
Fernandes has put pen to paper on a five-and-a-half year deal at United, with an option to extend by a further year.
The Red Devils were desperate for midfield reinforcements, and there is huge anticipation around what Fernandes will bring to United's dressing room.
But Carragher feels the 26-year-old's arrival will only begin to particularly bear fruit at the start of next season, after a short bedding in period.
"This guy [Fernandes] has come in for a big fee. We’ll see how good he’ll be," Carragher told Sky Sports. "He’s obviously one for the next four or five years.
"It’s also a bonus when you get someone in January so they can acclimatise between now and the end of the season.
"Hopefully for Manchester United he can really hit the ground running at the start of next season."
Fernandes has been in good goalscoring form for Sporting in the Portuguese Primera Liga, netting 13 times in 22 appearances this campaign.
But United are a side in transition, and Carragher feels it will take more than just their new signing to drastically improve their performance.
"Manchester United need big change but it’s not easy to do that in January. The fans will understand it’s not been easy for them to bring players in.
"They would have wanted four or five players in but they’ll have to wait for the summer now. Certainly central midfield has been a big area for Manchester United.
"Paul Pogba doesn’t look like he wants to be there and you have to question whether the other midfielders are good enough for a club like Manchester United."
