Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes is 'seriously considering' leaving the club this summer amid strong interest from Saudi Arabia, according to talkSPORT.
The Red Devils were on the verge of losing the Portugal international last summer as the Saudis looked to splash the cash with a deal worth £100m to Old Trafford, with wages worth up to around £700,000-a-week on offer.
However, the playmaker opted to stay in the Premier League rather than make the switch to the Middle East after holding talks with then-manager Ruben Amorim and his family, but their interest remains, and now he is understood to be considering making the move.
Bruno Fernandes 'Seriously Considering' Man Utd Exit
Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes celebrates
Fernandes, who recently broke David Beckham's club-record for the most assists in a single season, has been in sensational form this season, registering eight goals and 16 assists in the Premier League.
The 31-year-old recently reached 100 goals and 100 assists for the club faster than Lionel Messi did for Barcelona, and will enter the final year of his contract at Old Trafford this summer.
It's understood that the offer from Saudi Arabia is still on the table, with the club braced for a 'historic bid', but should Fernandes not be keen on a move to the Middle East, he does have a £57m release clause in his contract that can be triggered by any clubs in Europe outside of the Premier League.
Fernandes is believed to be seriously considering his options, despite the club being on the verge of returning to the Champions League next season while they sit third in the Premier League.
Man Utd don't want to lose their captain though, despite being open to selling him last year, and it's believed they may need to offer him fresh contract terms, including a wage hike, to keep him beyond this summer.
Man Utd Have Big Fernandes Decision
bruno fernandes
While the Reds are desperate to overhaul their midfield this summer, and also need to make a decision on who their next permanent manager will be, the decision on Fernandes may be their biggest.
A new contract may be difficult to justify, considering his age and the policy that INEOS are trying to put in place. If that means Fernandes leaves, then INEOS must ensure that he is adequately replaced for whoever the new manager is.
GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT to name the top five candidates to replace him if he left, and this was its response:
Morgan Gibbs-White – Creative, versatile No.10 with pressing intensity
Cole Palmer – Elite chance creator, goals + assists output
Jude Bellingham – World-class all-round attacking midfielder
Morgan Rogers – Powerful carrier, direct attacking threat
Oihan Sancet – Goal-scoring playmaker, strong late runs
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