Manchester United’s ‘expectation’ for Bruno Fernandes is reportedly revealed following claims that Al-Ittihad are making a late push for the Red Devils captain.
Manchester United are reportedly confident that Bruno Fernandes will stay at the club for the 2025-26 season following the latest Saudi Arabia links.
The 30-year-old was the subject of a lucrative big-money offer from Al-Hilal earlier in the window, but he turned down the Middle Eastern riches in favour of staying at Old Trafford.
However, it has now been claimed that Al-Ittihad – who employ Karim Benzema, N’Golo Kante, Fabinho, Houssem Aouar, Moussa Diaby and Steven Bergwijn – are making a late push to sign Fernandes before the Saudi window closes.
While the Premier League market shuts for business on September 1, clubs in Saudi Arabia can still bring in new recruits until September 10, and talks are understood to have been held between Fernandes’s camp and Al-Ittihad.
The former Sporting Lisbon playmaker made headlines for the wrong reasons on Sunday afternoon amid the transfer speculation, blazing a penalty over the bar as Man United’s winless start to the season continued in a 1-1 draw with Fulham.
Fernandes ‘expected to stay’ at Man Utd amid Saudi links
Nevertheless, the Manchester Evening News reports that Fernandes is expected to continue at Old Trafford for the upcoming campaign, and Man United are not fearing a potential late departure to the Saudi Pro League.
Those close to the Red Devils have allegedly been left ‘baffled’ by the renewed Saudi Pro League speculation, and the chances of Fernandes leaving the 20-time English champions in the next few days are considered ‘highly unlikely’.
The Portugal international is in the final two years of his contract at the Theatre of Dreams, but Man United can activate a one-year extension to keep him on the books until the end of the 2027-28 campaign.
Fernandes is two goals away from hitting the 100-mark in Man United colours, having come up with 98 strikes in 292 appearances since his 2020 arrival, in addition to 86 assists.
The 30-year-old is being forced to operate in a deeper midfield role this season, though, as Ruben Amorim accommodates new arrivals Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha alongside Mason Mount, who is enjoying a revival in the Red Devils’ first XI.
Fernandes set to stay, but who will leave Man United?
Al-Ittihad have form when it comes to last-gasp moves for Premier League superstars, having tried and failed to lure Mohamed Salah away from Liverpool with a late £150m bid in the summer of 2023.
There was even talk of the club going back in with a world-record £200m offer, but such rumours never came to fruition, and it would take a similarly astronomical proposal for Man United to even consider parting ways with their captain so late in the window.
However, the Red Devils are still trying to find new stomping grounds for their bomb squad in Antony, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia, all of whom are no closer to leaving the club either on loan or permanently.
Misfiring striker Rasmus Hojlund – who was left out of the matchday squad again this Sunday – is also heading for the exit door and is understood to be advancing in talks with a Serie A powerhouse.
On the flip side, Man United are supposedly close to agreeing a deal to sign Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens, and their stance over Andre Onana’s future ahead of the Belgian’s arrival has apparently also been revealed.
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