A two-image collage displaying an image of Bruno Fernandes on the left and a cropped section of a Manchester United line up graphic on the right.
It remains to be seen if Bruno Fernandes will stay at Manchester United.
Manchester United will find themselves having a big decision to make if Al-Hilal submit a big-money offer for captain Bruno Fernandes.
It is understood the United ace is considering a move to the Saudi Arabian club amid suggestions they could table a £100million bid for his signature. They are keen to get on with a deal as quickly as possible so that Fernandes can feature at the upcoming Club World Cup.
United have refused to rule out the prospect of selling anyone in this summer's transfer window, meaning Fernandes could be offloaded if the club receives an offer that is too good to turn down, despite chief executive Omar Berrada admitting earlier this year nobody will be sold purely for financial purposes.
If United lost a player as important and as influential as Fernandes, he would leave a gaping hole in need of filling. With that said, MEN Sport has had a look at three ways United could line-up if they were to say farewell to their much-loved talisman:
Mainoo becomes the main man
Like Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo is not yet assured of his United future. He found himself in and out of the team in the second half of the season and regularly flittered between the centre of midfield and one of the two No.10 spots, meaning his long-term position in Ruben Amorim's plans is yet to be determined.
Most United supporters believe Amorim underused Mainoo in the second half of the season, failing to make the most of his talent. But there is no denying his performances, albeit impacted by injury, were not as eye-catching as they were in 2023/24.
A player as talented as Mainoo ought to be central to United's future plans, and he can force his way into a position that makes him a key figure.
By no means a direct comparison to Fernandes, he could operate from the centre of midfield and next to Manuel Ugarte, with the onus on the latter to provide the defensive nous and control that allows Mainoo to play the progressive, forward-thinking game he is capable of.
Kobbie Mainoo could reclaim a prominent role.
Cunha picks up the baton
Fernandes, of course, is equally capable of playing as both a No.8 and as a No.10. If Amorim views his long-term role as one of the two playmakers, United are already working on trying to sign someone who can pick up that baton in Matheus Cunha.
United have agreed to pay his £62.5m release clause and are now in talks with Wolves over the structure of the payments. He is expected to be United's first summer signing and become Amorim's first-choice left-sided No.10, meaning if Fernandes is to stay, he could find himself automatically operating as a No.8.
It would then be a toss up between Mason Mount and Amad to occupy the other No.10 berth. Both players are well thought of by Amorim and will equally believe they are worthy of a starting berth, but Amad is also capable of playing as a right wing-back.
If both Amad and Mount start, Amorim may be forced to going slightly more defensive in the centre of midfield, requiring him to task Casemiro and Ugarte with sitting deep and soaking up counter-attacks and sniffing out any danger.
Amad could be tasked with operating as a wing-back.
The dream attack
The prospect of United banking £100m for Fernandes, who will turn 31 in September, would open up avenues of opportunity for them to explore this summer. It is no secret United want to sharpen their attack by signing a goalscorer alongside Cunha.
After missing out on Liam Delap, it remains to be seen which direction United's hunt for a goal-getter will head in. However, links connecting them with the likes of Victor Osimhen of Napoli and Sporting Lisbon's Viktor Gyokeres are unlikely to go away soon.
If United can fund a move for a striker of that ilk, they have to try everything possible to land one. Never have United been so desperate for a proven goal-getter.
If, for example, United are lucky enough to sign Osimhen, he will automatically replace Rasmus Hojlund as the starting striker. Depending on how far their budget stretches, Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo has also been linked with a move to M16, meaning he would complete a star-studded, new-look attack.
Manchester United would love to assemble a new-look attack this summer.