Views: 3
Manchester United have been informed of the likelihood of holding onto their captain, Bruno Fernandes, after the Portuguese midfielder’s excellent form this season.
Manchester United have been told they are in a position of strength when it comes to keeping hold of Bruno Fernandes.
The Portuguese midfielder’s performances have been a rare bright spot for United during a difficult season after scoring 16 goals and registering 15 assists across all competitions. While his attitude on the pitch sometimes comes under fire, Fernandes is a player United will be keen to keep hold of as they look to rebuild under Ruben Amorim.
The 30-year-old signed a new three-year deal in August despite receiving an offer to leave last summer. Fernandes‘ future was recently raised by former United goalkeeper Ben Foster, who believes he could attract bids of up to £70million if club officials were minded to sell him.
The ex-England and Wrexham shot-stopper said a move to a top-four side would be no more than the Reds captain deserves for his outstanding displays. United are languishing in 13th place in the Premier League table. However, Foster suggested that the club is in a good place to keep Fernandes, with only teams in the Saudi Pro League likely to be able to afford him.
“Bruno Fernandes should be playing for a team where you’re in the top four and you’re in the Champions League,” Foster said on his Fozcast podcast. “I’d pay £65m to £70m for him. He’s the sort of player that’s still got three or four years left at the top level.
“But he’s a perfect fit for Man United because he’s dragging them through this season. When Bruno goes in for a new contract, these are all the considerations that have to be taken by everybody. The club will have their opinion on what they want to pay him and what he’s worth, because they will say, ‘well, where could he go?’
“Other than Saudi, where it’s just crazy money, where could he actually go? The big boys are off the table, in all honesty. That helps Manchester United as a football club.”
The latest update on Fernandes from journalist Fabrizio Romano would appear to tally with Foster’s views, with the reporter claiming he ‘trusts’ the project and will be ‘staying’ put.
The developments come despite Fernandes recently lifting the lid on a potential move away from United, which cropped up last year. “I sat with the club because I had an offer to leave,” he said. “We talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying.
“They said what they wanted from me. I just asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with (Erik) Ten Hag also.
“He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild. I thought that we could be successful.”