Manchester United are reportedly braced for a Real Madrid bid for captain Bruno Fernandes in the summer, with the Red Devils under severe financial constraints.
Boss Ruben Amorim has endured a difficult tenure at Old Trafford so far, with the Portuguese coach only winning six of his 18 Premier League games in charge.
Though the club's domestic season is all but over given they are 13th in the league and out of both the FA Cup and EFL Cup, winning the Europa League could see 2024-25 end on a high.
If United are to win the competition, they will need captain Fernandes to continue his scintillating form, with the attacking midfielder scoring seven goals and registering three assists in his last seven games for his side.
However, the Daily Star claims that Real Madrid could lodge a bid of £90m in the summer amidst reports that scouts from the La Liga club have been present at numerous matches.
© Imago
The Bruno Fernandes problem
Few of the Red Devils' more expensive signings in the past decade have worked out well, with the likes of Jadon Sancho, Paul Pogba and Antony all failing to find consistency at Old Trafford.
Fernandes has been one of the few exceptions, and it should be noted that since arriving from Sporting Lisbon for £55m in January 2020, the Portuguese has produced at least 15 goals and assists in each of his full Premier League seasons in Manchester.
However, though he has personally excelled regardless of manager and regardless of who he has been partnered with on the pitch, there is an argument that Amorim may have to consider the playmaker's future sooner rather than later.
Fernandes is 30 years old and will be 31 in September, and while the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah have excelled in the Premier League despite being in their thirties, neither get through as much running as their United counterpart.
Additionally, Red Devils co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has implemented numerous cost-cutting measures since joining the club amidst financial difficulties
Amorim's only signing since his arrival at Old Trafford in November has been wing-back Patrick Dorgu, and it is difficult to see how he can make improvements without significant financial investment into his squad.
While selling Fernandes could be an unpopular decision, the club would be unlikely to recoup such a fee in the summer of 2026 considering his age, and they would be able to reinvest such a sum back into the first team.
Lewis Nolan
