As Manchester United prepare for a busy summer transfer window, a midfield rebuild is currently top of the agenda and the club are assessing their options to build funds, including a potential sale of their most valuable asset.
Over the years, Manchester United’s midfield has been notoriously abandoned by the club. Despite being the most important area of the pitch, United have mostly failed to recruit any suitable options in recent years and are now in desperate need of an overhaul this summer.
Last summer, Ruben Amorim was keen on signing Brighton’s Carlos Baleba but the club decided against the transfer and instead focused on other areas. This came back to bite them and ultimately cost Amorim his job. Now, the club will most likely set up with a midfield three for the forseeable future, which makes this issue even more urgent.
With Casemiro announcing his departure at the end of the season and Manuel Ugarte likely to leave the club in search of regular playing time, United’s options are thin. In attacking areas, Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha give depth to the ‘number 10’ position but only Kobbie Mainoo will likely be part of the plans for United’s midfield pivot. This leaves United needing at least two if not three additions in this department.
This will depend on their budget, which is affected by whether or not the team qualifies for the Champions League. The team is currently on track to achieve this but could still consider sales to improve their capabilities in the window. Like last summer, there is lots of interest around Bruno Fernandes from Saudi Arabia and other top European clubs, and United could consider cashing in on the 31 year old.
Bruno labelled as “indispensable”
There is no doubt that Manchester United’s best and most valuable player is Bruno Fernandes. His consistent numbers and clear influence on the team make him one of the best players in the Premier League.
Fernandes recently reached a huge milestone of 200 Premier League goal contributions for Manchester United. For United, only Wayne Rooney hit that milestone quicker which shows the level of player we are talking about.
There has been a lot of speculation over his future, and last summer was the closest we came to seeing United’s captain leave the club. It was clear that there was an offer from Saudi side Al Hilal but Bruno ultimately refused and stayed in Manchester.
According to CaughtOffside, one source said “a lot of people inside Manchester United will describe Bruno Fernandes as ‘indispensable’, and there’s an element of truth to that.
“However, they’re also realistic about his age, his high earnings, and the fact that his current contract expires in 2027.”
There have been no concrete offers since as of yet but it is understood that the club could be tempted by offers around the €100 million, which is roughly £87 million. Fernandes’ view remains unknown but his recent form has shown that he is still at the top of his game.
Another source said, “in an ideal world, United would keep him, but the reality is that this is their last chance to make big money from selling him, and they have plans of their own in terms of new signings to reshape their midfield.”
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Should United cash in on Bruno?
Since his arrival in 2020, Bruno Fernandes has been at the highest level for United. He is adored by the majority of the fan base and many consider him a top player.
It is without question that Fernandes has underachieved in his United career given that the club have been stuck in a rut for over a decade. Despite the club’s struggles, one player has always given his best and stayed loyal to the red side of Manchester when he has had chances to leave.
It seems all parties were tempted by a transfer to Saudi Arabia last summer, but Fernandes turned down the opportunity because of unfinished business at United. It has been reported that alongside interest from Saudi, top European clubs such as Bayern Munich and PSG would be keen for his signature, which will come as no surprise to United.
A midfield rebuild is imperative this summer, but it feels like almost no amount of money can fill the hole that Fernandes would leave in this team. His teammates and coaches are always full of praise for him, both on and off the pitch, and his leadership is invaluable.
United’s ‘magnifico’ is not getting any younger, but he is also showing no signs of slowing down any time soon. This season has been one of his finest so far and he could still break the Premier League Assists record in a single season (20) as he has already recorded 12 in 26 games.
Although a significant sale could be helpful to United this summer, the budget will improve if the team achieve qualification to the Champions League, which looks likely as of now. With the team looking to build on this season during the next campaign, it feels as though losing a player like Bruno Fernandes could be costly.
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