Bruno Fernandes is often familiar as the Savior of Manchester United – so it fits his farewell gift can eventually be a final rescue act.
United always knew that this summer the sale would be needed to create sufficient financial flexibility to reform the team for Ruben Amorim. The sale of Fernandes was not part of that plan, the future of the captain a generally supposed certainty until Hilal came to the table.
Despite the willingness of the Saudis to pay £ 100 million for a player who turns 31 in September 31, United and Amorim Fernandes want to keep. The United Boss believes that the midfielder wants to stay, although he could not guarantee that he would do that. But can the club afford to reject this?
It is unlikely that such an offer will come again in view of the age of Fernandes. The windfall would be transforming for United prior to a summer when the budget is pinched and an overhaul is so required. The sale of Fernandes can start a new chapter for the club.
This reasoning only holds on the assumption that the funds would be wise and, for a club with such a bad record in recruitment, it would be a huge gamble. No wonder there is skepticism. Relax again and relegation is emerging.
Over the past decade, Old Trafford has become a cemetery for stars – Fernandes one of the few radiant exceptions – and although Ineos is not the fault of that inheritance, it emphasizes how difficult it would be to replace the best signing of the club since Robin van Persie.
We all know that Fernandes is a production machine, but he has also become a leader. Certainly imperfect. The captain of United tends to try too hard if something goes wrong – for the disadvantage of him and the team. But where would they be without him?
Well, United has not won a Premier League match since March 2022 without Fernandes. The sample size is small, but the record is significant. Six games, five defeats and one draw. In a team that is missing in character and quality, Fernandes plays both in abundance.
The departure of Fernandes would be united from their one elite player and Old Trafford will certainly make an even less attractive destination. Liam Delap has already chosen Chelsea over United. Finding sufficient replacements is difficult enough without Champions League.
Emotionally appear in a summer when Academy Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho were set for the Chop, on the back of hundreds of fired and the worst season for decades, the loss of Fernandes could bring the fan base to its knees.
In the context of the past year – and the past decade – when the club has been accused of losing contact with its identity, losing Fernandes United would almost be unrecognizable on the way to a summer that could make or break for Ineos.
If this was another club, it would be easier to predict how they can treat a similar scenario without such a glum overview. The comparison of Philippe Coutinho – although inadequate – is an example of how a well -run club can sell a star to improve the collective.
Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker were signed by Liverpool using the £ 146 million compensation that Barcelona paid. Their additions turned out to be transformational for Jurgen Klopp, who would win the Champions League and Premier League for the next three years.
Liverpool was further in their rebuilding, but the example offers a blueprint for how United could enjoy a similar transformation if Fernandes leaves. With a keeper, central midfielder and striker very necessary, £ 100 million could finance a new spine for the team.
Matheus Cunha, not deterred by the lack of European football, is already through the door. If others share his belief in the project, although the signature, sealed on day one of the window, suggests that Ineos might start to find things out.
They will hope that after £ 200 million that is true in their first summer and to take the club from the eighth in the table to the 15th. Erik ten Hag was still in charge at the time and the window had recruited his fingerprints everywhere with two former Ajax players.
Now Ineos has been in place for another year under their belt and Amorim with a system that he has made clear, the circumstances will certainly seem to be more conducive to a better window and the early signs are good.
Cunha, 26, is one of the handful of Premier League -Consized players who have signed United in the post Sir Alex Ferguson -era -and if this is a sign of the things that are still coming, then Ineos will at least work to correct the mistakes from the past.
But financing movements for such players are not cheap and can be difficult if Fernandes is not sold. For example, Cunha was £ 62.5 million. Reports suggest that this has disappeared more than half of the budget without sale.
If Fernandes were to stay, risks should be taken on unknown quantities that fit in with the Amorim system, or he would have to tolerate the current crop for longer. For a coach who could soon come under pressure next season, neither sounds too attractive.
But not losing Fernandes either, and that is the dilemma. United wants him to stay, also Amorim. The final decision, it seems, lies with Fernandes, who could not blame anyone for departure after everything he has tolerated.
United cannot afford to sell their captain, but they cannot afford to reject the offer from Al Hilal either.