Man United insider reveals Bruno Fernandes 'whispers that won't go away'

Manchester United cannot afford to lose Bruno Fernandes despite ongoing uncertainty about his long-term future at the club.

The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, while a difficult run of form and a recent outburst against his manager have raised questions about his future.

Following a 4-1 defeat against Como in the Champions League, the captain hit out at Michael Carrick and his coaching staff for the way they set up, as he was clearly unhappy.

Former Man United chief scout Mick brown told Football Insider that it would come as a "huge blow" to lose Fernandes, but the whispers about his exit are not going away.

Following his latest outburst and suggestions of unhappiness, doubts about the midfielder's future are likely to grow again, with his next steps firmly in his own hands.

Man United are determined to keep Fernandes given his importance to the team, but if improvements are not made quickly, they will be at risk of losing their star man.

Could Bruno Fernandes quit Man United?

Brown told Football Insider on 14 October that Man United have serious concerns about Fernandes' recent performances given his importance to their success.

However, should he fail to show improvements any time soon, serious questions could be asked while a number of clubs continue to keep tabs on his situation.

There has been interest in Fernandes from Saudi Arabia and Turkey in recent months, while top European sides are also believed to be keen, but Man United do not want to lose him.

"Man United cannot afford to lose Bruno Fernandes, it's as simple as that," Brown told Football Insider.

"He's such an important part of their team, it's no coincidence that when he hasn't been performing at his best, they have struggled to win games or pick up positive results.

"But these whispers about his future aren't going away, and I can't imagine he has been especially happy with the way things have gone this season.

"To keep your best players at the club, you need to show them you can be successful and you can win things, and if you're not even winning game to game, it's going to be a problem.

"Man United have to be making efforts to keep Fernandes at the club, but whether or not he wants to extend is far from certain, which has got to be a concern for them."

What is the latest on Fernandes' contract talks?

Given the serious doubts about his future at the club, much has been made of the fact Fernandes will see his current contract expire come the end of the season.

Despite his key role in the side, there are doubts about his willingness to pen a new deal, although United are being tipped to make every effort to keep him around.

Football Insider revealed on 16 October that Man United are locked in talks with Fernandes over his future and hope to reach an agreement in the near future.

While he has not yet showcased the form and numbers he was hitting per game last season, there is no denying that the attacking midfielder remains key to their ambitions.

However, with lingering interest from elsewhere and growing frustrations behind the scenes, it may not be as simple as they hoped to keep Fernandes at Old Trafford.