Bruno Fernandes following in Mohamed Salah's footsteps as Man United exit edges closer
Bruno Fernandes' start to the season with Manchester United will have some thinking of the way Mohamed Salah's final months at Liverpool went.
The 32-year-old scored a hat-trick against Ipswich Town at the end of August but has failed to score or assist in any Premier League game since, with the Red Devils still without a second win.
The Portugal international's contract at Old Trafford is set to expire next year, with discussions over a new deal reportedly having been ongoing for some time.
Salah found himself in a similar position last season and eventually left Liverpool on a free transfer, signing for Turkish side Trabzonspor.
The 34-year-old struggled in his final Premier League season but looks to be thriving in Turkey, where he has already scored eight goals in 10 games across all competitions.
It remains to be seen whether Fernandes will sign a new deal, with there certainly being plenty of interest in him if he does decide to leave.
Is Bruno Fernandes on the Mohamed Salah pathway?
Fernandes has looked a shadow of the player he was last season, with Michael Carrick deploying him in several positions in recent weeks as he attempts to play his captain back into life.
The midfielder broke the assist record last season, providing 21 assists and scoring nine goals in 35 Premier League appearances.
He has enjoyed brilliant form for much of his time at Old Trafford, but last season saw him reach heights that pulled a struggling team into the Champions League.
But stars often shine brightest before they fade, and there are now concerns that Fernandes is rapidly declining.
Salah experienced similar. The Liverpool man scored 34 goals and provided 23 assists across all competitions as the Reds won the Premier League in 2025.
The following season was the worst of his time at Anfield - Arne Slot's team crumbled and so did the winger, ultimately leaving at the end of the season.
Fernandes is now fighting the possibility that he is set for a similar pathway, and he is already losing the battle.
What has Michael Carrick said about Fernandes?
More than anybody else, Carrick will be concerned about Fernandes' form this season.
The Portugal international arguably earned the Englishman the permanent job with his form in the second half of the campaign, and could lose it for him as well.
"I think there's no denying there's been a bit of frustration and disappointment with certain things at the start of the season, with results or goals. That's not solely or anything towards just Bruno," Carrick said after last week's defeat to Atletico Madrid.
"That's all of us. And again, for me, you know, I understand it, but straight away, a couple of games don't go to plan and a lot of the mentality of is, 'this has happened before, this is going to happen again.' That's not our focus, you know?
"We're thinking 'what do we need to do to get back to what we're good at?' There's a lot of good, there are a lot of things there from the other night again that we can take forward."