‘Man United must agree Bruno Fernandes deal to avoid losing irreplaceable star’
Bruno Fernandes is far too important for Manchester United to even consider a move away for their captain this summer.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson said that the Red Devils can’t afford to lose their Portuguese talisman this summer.
Man United‘s below-par season could have gone much worse without Fernandes’ 19 goals and 19 assists in all competitions this term, and he has underlined his credentials as their most important player.
The 30-year-old has eight goals and 10 assists in the league for a side sat 15th in the table, and amid interest from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, United will be in no mood to let Fernandes leave the club.
Al-Hilal made Fernandes their number one target after Mohamed Salah rebuffed their interest to sign a new contract at Liverpool, but Ruben Amorim will be hesitant to let him leave Old Trafford.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson has told Football Insider that Fernandes is irreplaceable for the Red Devils this summer, and United will be under pressure to tie their captain down for the long-term.
Bruno Fernandes contract a no-brainer at Man United
Although Fernandes is on the wrong side of 30 and Man United are in desperately need of money, their skipper’s performances this season have underlined how important Fernandes is in Amorim’s side.
Speaking on the Inside Track podcast, Robinson argued that United must build their squad around Fernandes amid a huge overhaul this summer, and the prospect of him departing is absolutely unthinkable.
“It would be a massive blow – Bruno Fernandes is integral to what Manchester United do and he’s pulled them up by the boot laces so many times this season”, Robinson told Football Insider.
“If Manchester United were to lose him, they would be in a lot worse place than they are now. They simply can’t afford to lose him, whatever price anyone puts on him.
“You give him a new contract at this stage and you build the team around him, because he’s been that important to them.”
Man United rebuild must involve Fernandes as its fulcrum
Amorim and Jim Ratcliffe will oversee plenty of squad churn at Old Trafford in the summer transfer window, with Marcus Rashford one of several bound for the exit door and keen to switch to Barcelona.
The Red Devils can raise much-needed funds with sales such as Rashford’s, but if Fernandes is included in a summer fire-sale, any credibility for Ratcliffe will be entirely eroded away in the eyes of United fans.
The composition of Amorim’s squad at the start of next term remains to be seen, but with Fernandes still being the club’s main source of goals and assists, he can’t now become a source of transfer income.