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Al-Hilal confident of £100m Bruno Fernandes transfer as Man Utd talks progress

Al-Hilal are increasingly confident of landing a deal for Bruno Fernandes after positive talks over the Manchester United captain.

The Saudi Arabian champions have made Fernandes, 30, their main summer target and want to wrap up a move before the Fifa Club World Cup starts in a fortnight.

Discussions over a stunning transfer have accelerated in the past few days with Fernandes’s agent, Miguel Pinho, holding talks in the Four Seasons hotel in Riyadh, which have led to Al-Hilal believing there is a genuine possibility of a deal.

The Saudi Pro League side are looking to make up to three signings this summer and take advantage of United’s financial problems with a deal that could be worth between £80 million and £100 million.

United have gone on a post-season tour to generate funds – about £7.8 million – after another season of making losses. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said they would have gone “bust by Christmas” without cost-cutting measures.

Fernandes, who started in the club’s 3-1 win over Hong Kong on Friday, is giving serious consideration to leaving United after six seasons and at the end of a campaign in which he has clearly been their best player.

After the friendly win, Ruben Amorim, the manager, was asked whether it was Fernandes’s last game in a United shirt, and replied: “I don’t think so. I don’t know for sure. I think he wants to stay. He is saying no to a lot of things. The club can find other ways to make money. The feeling I get is that he wants to continue for sure with Man United, [but] you never know.”

Earlier this month, Telegraph Sport reported how Al-Hilal were prepared to pay Fernandes £1 million a week if he decided to move there.

He gave no guarantees over his future when asked towards the end of the season. Amorim has insisted he wants the player to stay, but could also use the incoming money to reshape his squad.

“You can see by his performances. You can see by his leadership. You can see the passion he has for the game. In difficult moments Bruno is the guy who takes responsibility. He should do because he is the captain,” Amorim said.

A significant fee for Fernandes would boost United’s hopes of a squad overhaul this summer, when funds are tight and the club are without any type of European football next term.

“We are a bit limited [in the transfer market] and we can’t do it all in one summer. But there is a clear picture for what we want,” Amorim added.

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