Manchester United are considering selling captain Bruno Fernandes next summer, with uncertainty growing over his future after a difficult start to the season and tensions with manager Michael Carrick.
Fernandes’ contract is due to expire at the end of the campaign. United have the option to extend it by a further year, a clause they could activate before inviting offers for the midfielder in 2027.
Manchester United weigh Fernandes transfer decision
The reported plan would allow United to avoid losing Fernandes as a free agent while protecting his transfer value. It marks a shift from the club’s position earlier this year, when the Portugal international was regarded as virtually untouchable.
Fernandes remains one of United’s most productive players, but his relationship with Carrick has come under scrutiny since the club’s 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como.
After that match, Fernandes questioned the team’s pressing approach and argued that United needed to be more aggressive without the ball. Carrick then left him on the bench for the meeting with Bournemouth, although he said the decision was football-related.
Despite the uncertainty, Fernandes’ output has remained significant. Since Carrick took charge in January, he has recorded 14 assists and created 96 chances — more than any other player in Europe’s top five leagues during that period.
United must nevertheless decide whether a long-term commitment to a 32-year-old creator on major wages fits their plans for a younger squad. The club’s midfield is increasingly seen as requiring greater control, athleticism and positional discipline, rather than continuing to revolve around one high-risk playmaker.
Activating the additional year of Fernandes’ contract would give United time to identify a successor while ensuring they could still receive a transfer fee. Should a substantial offer arrive next summer, the club may conclude that selling their captain is the right decision for the next stage of the rebuild.
