Manchester United are nearing a crossroads concerning Bruno Fernandes' future at Old Trafford as the captain's expiring contract becomes a focus at Old Trafford
Bruno Fernandes speaks during an interview
Bruno Fernandes' future at Manchester United is set to be one of the major talking points this summer, with the club facing a dilemma
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Bruno Fernandes has become a modern-day icon at Manchester United but there's a chance he may not be sticking around for much longer. The club captain continues to be linked with a summer transfer away and has spoken openly on the topic in recent months.
Fernandes has addressed rumours regarding interest from Saudi Arabia last summer after Al-Hilal were reportedly prepared to offer £100million for his signature. The 31-year-old revealed in December how then-manager Ruben Amorim played a role in convincing him to stay, albeit adding he felt as though United wanted to accept the offer.
That may influence things if similar offers emerge at the end of the season, with his current contract due to expire in the summer of 2027. United retain the right to extend that agreement by a further 12 months but the notion of receiving a nine-figure sum for a player on the wrong side of 30 could prove too tempting to pass up.
Fernandes will supposedly demand wages that would see him become the club's new top earner by some distance in the event he signs a new contract. However, United may decide it's prudent to cash in sooner as one of numerous possibilities in what has become a key issue at the club.
New bumper contract
There's arguably no player currently at United who holds more value than Fernandes. Not simply in terms of potential market price but also in regards to how much the team is improved when he's in it.
As a result, it's feasible the club will decide it's in their best interests to invest by rewarding him with a new contract. Fernandes is reportedly seeking a £400,000-a-week commitment if he does pen fresh terms at Old Trafford given his next deal will most likely be the last major one he signs as a player.
It's a significant step up from the £300,000 a week he currently earns. However, with Casemiro already confirmed to be leaving in the summer, clearing his £375,000-a-week salary from the wage bill, will free up a sizeable sum on the payroll.
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United arrives ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Bournemouth at Old Trafford
United skipper Fernandes could be on the exit ramp at Old Trafford ahead of a crossroads summer window(Image: Getty)
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There is a substantial risk involved in handing a new long-term offer to a player who will turn 32 in September, however. Liverpool are a recent example of this after rewarding Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk with new contracts last year, only to see both ageing stars struggle in matching their usual standards so far this term.
There is the added caveat that Fernandes supposedly wants to see who is appointed as the next permanent manager before committing. But after Michael Carrick's perfect start to life as interim manager has seen his odds of getting the job shorten, that may not be an issue for too much longer.
£100m transfer
The other avenue worth exploring is to cash in on Fernandes while the getting is good. Given his age profile, there's no guarantee United will ever receive offers in the region currently being bandied about should they choose to keep hold of their skipper for another year.
The Saudi Pro League has been a useful bargaining tool for Premier League clubs in offloading certain talents in recent years. Clubs in the Middle East are willing to offer inflated figures for high-profile names in an effort to grow their brand and rumours of Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr's interest in Fernandes have persisted despite failing to land the player last summer.
Speaking to Canal 11 in December, Fernandes admitted he was open to playing in Saudi Arabia as he said: "I can't complain, I'm very well paid, but obviously the difference is huge. That was never what guided me. If one day I have to play in Saudi Arabia, I'll play in Saudi Arabia.
"My lifestyle will change, my children's lives will be sunny, after six years in Manchester with cold and rain. I'll be playing in a growing league, with recognised players."
The financial reward is also something to behold, with Fernandes reportedly receiving a contract offer worth in the region of £700,000 a week last year. After six years at United, there's chance this summer could be the tipping point for both club and player if all parties agree a sale is best for everyone involved.
Other transfer interest
Bruno Fernandes speaks during a press conference
Fernandes has mentioned Spain, Italy and Portugal as destinations he'd be interested in post-United(Image: PA)
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Saudi powerhouses are unlikely to be the only ones invested in the event it becomes known that Fernandes is up for grabs. However, the situation is complicated due to the fact not as many European teams would be able to rival Saudi spending power.
Bayern Munich have been recently linked as another possible suitor, and one that would satisfy Fernandes' desire to keep competing at the elite level. The German giants have increased their spending methods in recent years, and Harry Kane was 30 when Bayern paid in the region of £100m to sign him from Tottenham almost three years ago.
In the same aforementioned Canal 11 interview, Fernandes also discussed his other potential destinations post-United: "I want to stay at Manchester United as long as I feel desired. I would like to experience the Spanish league and fight for big titles in Italy. I have many connections to Italy… my daughter was born there.
"I've already thought about returning to Portugal… the first option would be [former employers] Sporting. To be happy, like it was with Sporting. But I don’t want to ruin the image that was left."
Leaves for free
Cash is king, but from a realist's perspective, getting a fee for Fernandes isn't necessarily the be all and end all. In fact, running down his current contract and exercising the 12-month option to keep him at the club until 2028 may be the smartest option.
Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United
Fernandes could follow Casemiro's lead by leaving United on a free transfer in 2027 or 2028, depending on whether the club triggers his 12-month option(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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By doing so, United would retain the best possible chance of getting the most from the midfielder's remaining prime years. He could then leave in 2028, by which point he'll be 33, and would still be able to negotiate a lucrative deal elsewhere due to the fact he'd be moving without a transfer fee.
In that event, United wouldn't need to increase the player's wages and have more clarity as to their deadline in finding a successor. Granted, the club would be spurning the chance to acquire a major sum for their star, but talents like Fernandes don't come around often, so that could be a worthy sacrifice to ensure the remainder of his best years remain at Old Trafford.
United spent a total of £67.6m to acquire Fernandes from Sporting in 2020, assuming all add-ons in the deal have been met. If he were to leave in 2028, that would equate to roughly £8m per year (excluding wages) spread over the course of his eight-and-a-half years in Manchester.
Many would agree that's an acceptable outlay for a player who has raised the standards at the club throughout his tenure. As such, keeping everything as is before an amicable departure at the end of his current commitment could work out just fine.