Manchester United has initiated contract extension talks with captain Bruno Fernandes, according to sources close to the club. The preliminary discussions aim to secure the Portuguese midfielder's future at Old Trafford beyond his current contract, which is set to expire next summer.
Fernandes, 31, has 10 months remaining on his existing agreement, though the club holds an option to extend it by an additional year. Despite speculation surrounding his future throughout the summer, Manchester United is reportedly determined to retain Fernandes and seeks to reach a new agreement before the end of the current year.
His importance to the team was recently highlighted in the 5-2 victory over Ipswich, where Fernandes scored a hat-trick and provided an assist. He was also recognized as the PFA Player of the Year.
Fernandes has been a target for other clubs, with Galatasaray reportedly prepared to offer him a four-year contract that would double his current wages, along with a signing-on fee. Juventus and AC Milan have also been reported to be monitoring his situation. A release clause in his contract, valued at approximately £56.7 million, expired in July.
Last summer, Fernandes was close to a move to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, who offered him a contract worth around £200 million over three years and United a transfer fee of £100 million. He ultimately rejected the move but admitted feeling “hurt” that United had been willing to accept the bid.
Since joining Manchester United in 2020, Fernandes has scored 110 goals and provided 109 assists in 329 appearances. He has previously expressed his commitment to playing at the highest level, stating his desire to remain in the Premier League and continue with Manchester United. He noted his intention to perform at the level required by the manager and to step aside if he is no longer capable.