Less than 12 months after becoming a target of Saudi Pro League clubs, Bruno Fernandes is once again said to be considering his future at Manchester United.
Last summer, the "Red Devils" captain received serious transfer interest from Saudi Arabia. The Portuguese international even admitted to feeling hurt by the leadership's behavior, saying that the club was trying to sell him.
Rumors are likely to return, especially when Fernandes' contract is valid until 2027 with a one-year extension clause. At the age of 31, he understands that this may be the last chance to receive a huge contract in his career.
Although the Portuguese midfielder decided to stay at Old Trafford, the story of the possibility of going to the Middle East has not subsided. Man United was ready to sell Fernandes last summer and although that stance seems to have become softer, keeping him may force the club to turn the captain into the highest-paid player in the team. According to British media, the figure mentioned is around £400,000 per week.
In terms of finance, selling Fernandes could bring in significant revenue. However, he is still the number one star at Old Trafford, surpassing the rest.
It is undeniable that replacing a player of stature like Fernandes will be an extremely difficult problem for any future official head coach, or for Michael Carrick if he continues to impress and is retained after the season.
In that context, recruiting a star like Cole Palmer could significantly reduce the impact if Fernandes leaves. The Chelsea attacking midfielder, who is rising to become one of the most dangerous spears in the Premier League, is said to be dissatisfied at Stamford Bridge and is ready to move to Man United.
British media even reported that the 23-year-old player welcomed the interest from Man United - the team he once loved when he was young.
Of course, Palmer will not be cheap as his contract is still until 2033. However, Man United's ability to balance the budget by selling a large asset like Fernandes is still a scenario mentioned.
If Fernandes really wants to find a new destination with great remuneration, while Man United sees a long-term replacement option like Palmer, the club's leadership will hardly be able to ignore this option.
This season, Palmer is facing many obstacles due to a groin injury and has only started 11 times. In Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Crystal Palace last weekend, the 23-year-old midfielder was not even on the registered squad.
Chelsea once spent £42.5 million to sign Palmer in September 2023, before extending his contract until 2033. However, the left-footed midfielder still regularly returns to Wythenshawe to visit family and friends and is said to be missing life at home.
