‘Mohamed Salah and Bruno Fernandes know another huge offer to be submitted’
Bruno Fernandes delivered the news the majority of Man United fans wanted to hear this week – he will not be moving to Saudi Arabia despite a big money offer from Al-Hilal.
Speculation surrounding the 30-year-old’s future had intensified after the Saudi giants stepped up their interest following the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
After a nervous few days for the club’s supporters as well as manager Ruben Amorim, Fernandes revealed his desire to stay in the Premier League and “play at the highest level”.
The Portugal international was well placed to double his wages in Saudi Arabia, but United and Amorim’s stance regarding the versatile midfielder was clear.
That message seemed to sway the player’s thinking. “Manchester United said they didn’t want to sell me,” said Fernandes. “They said if I wanted to go I could, but they didn’t need the money.”
However, Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – has raised new question marks over the size of the Saudi bid.
Fernandes tipped to make Man United exit for Saudi in a ‘year or two’
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness claimed Al-Hilal’s bid was unlikely to be near the £100million mark.
Fernandes is under contract at Old Trafford until June 2027 after joining from Sporting CP in 2020.
Wyness insisted Saudi clubs are still likely to be interested then and could prise him away on a free transfer.
Hetold Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “What’s interesting, now that he’s going to stay at United, is that perhaps the offer wasn’t as big as everybody had been talking about.
“It may not have been anywhere near the £100million mark.
“That will have had a bearing on the way things have been looked at (at United).
“It may not have been a pot of gold for United in terms of transfer moves going forward.
“I think it’s the right move for United to have kept him. For Fernandes, that level of contract in Saudi will be around for another couple of years as well.
“That’s what a lot of these players are starting to realise – Mo Salah in particular. While it was a huge offer for Salah, I think he knows that there’ll be another big deal for him in another year or two.”
‘Brentford upset by Bryan Mbeumo, Man United transfer a long way off’
Meanwhile, Brentford are reportedly not happy with Bryan Mbeumo over the way his potential transfer to Man United has played out.
It has emerged that Mbeumo wants to increase his salary five-fold at Old Trafford, going from £50,000 per week at Brentford, to £250,000 per week with the Red Devils.
The fact that information has been revealed has seemingly not gone down at all well with the 25-year-old’s current club.
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