Bruno Fernandes: Should Man Utd cash in on their captain after fresh €100m transfer interest?

Speculation has once again emerged around the future of Bruno Fernandes, with reports suggesting that Manchester United could finally cash in on their captain this summer.

Fernandes has been United’s most important player since his arrival in 2020 but he was the subject of an €80 million approach from Al-Hilal last summer, with the 31-year-old eventually opting to remain at Old Trafford.

United had considered Fernandes’ sale after missing out on European football for the first time in more than ten years and there was some belief that the club could look to begin a new era under Ruben Amorim by selling their star man and investing the fee across the playing squad.

But less than a year on, Amorim has departed leaving United and Fernandes thriving and currently on course to return to the Champions League next season, yet it has been claimed that the Red Devils will consider offers for Fernandes this summer again.

According to CaughtOffside, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and teams from the Saudi Pro League have ‘serious interest’ in Fernandes and the Portuguese star’s wages, combined with his contract winding down, could ‘force United’s hand’.

With United desperate restructure their midfield this summer, a major sale like Fernandes could be necessary but such a decision may leave the club in a weaker state and undo the reversal that has come about under Michael Carrick.

Bruno Fernandes – a priceless superstar

Fernandes’ contract expires at the end of next season, although United have an option to extend it for a further year – something which they will likely do in any case to protect his value.

United are aware that they will be eventually forced to either give their captain a lucrative extension or cash in on him but, with Fernandes still performing at his peak, the team will undoubtedly become weaker without the presence of their captain and best player.

Since his arrival, Fernandes has contributed to 131 goals in 218 Premier League matches – for context, that is more than almost all of United’s squad have achieved in their entire careers combined across English football.

Of course, there are a catalogue of stats that dictate how no player has created more chances than Fernandes in the Premier League since his arrival, or that only Mohamed Salah has been a bigger contributor to his team’s output, but nobody will be surprised by the United captain’s impact on his team.

However, ultimately United would have a huge gap in their team to fill and, even if the club were to receive an offer in excess of €100m, Fernandes’ contribution could be worth far more than that, as seen by his displays this season to potentially take his side back into the Champions League.

United will be grateful they didn’t force Fernandes to leave last summer but lessons may not have been learned if they are making the same considerations again this year.

Will finances take precedent over football?

While the footballing argument of keeping Fernandes is clear to anyone who has watched United in the last six years, it is the club’s job to make business decisions that allow the club to continue spending substantially, even if it costs them on the pitch.

Although SciSports analytics say Fernandes’ value was at its peak in 2021 when he was worth €87.7m, United could now exceed that amount if their asking price of more than €100m is met and there will never be a better time to cash out on a club legend.

In the PSR era, such a fee could help transform the squad and allow Carrick – or whichever manager replaces him – to sign the club’s top targets such as Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton or Carlos Baleba.

With United also looking at a left winger such as Yan Diomande and potentially a defender to replace the soon-to-be out-of-contract Harry Maguire, the club will be expecting to exceed their €250m they spent last summer.

The anticipated permanent departures of high earners like Marcus Rashford, Casemiro and Jadon Sancho will help United’s finances substantially but there still may not be enough to adequately strengthen without a top level sale.

Fernandes will be United’s oldest player once the contracts of Maguire, Casemiro and veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton expire this summer and it would not be a surprise if the skipper demands a new contract to match his commitment to the club.

United may take a leaf out of Liverpool’s books when they extended Salah’s contract and ignored the interest in their own talisman, even if financially it would have been far more prudent to sell.

Much will depend on how the season finishes for United and whether Champions League football can be secured for next season, as well as which long-term manager is appointed, in order to decide whether Fernandes will be part of the new-look United or be left behind.

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