Man United stand firm on captain Bruno Fernandes’ transfer stance as Galatasaray ‘prepare stunning DOUBLE-your-money salary offer’ and £43m bid for Portugal international
Manchester United insist Bruno Fernandes is not for sale at any price this summer.
Galatasaray, Atletico Madrid, Juventus and AC Milan, are among the clubs who have been weighing up making an offer for the United captain.
Indeed, it is understood Galatasaray are ready to put forward a £42.7million offer for the 31-year-old plus a substantial increase on his salary.
A £57m release clause in the Portugal international’s contract for foreign clubs expired last month and United know it would take considerably more to replace him, especially in the current inflated market.
As yet, no offer has been received, and senior United sources say interested parties would be wasting their time. Daily Mail Sport revealed in March that United were planning to instigate talks over a new deal for Fernandes. As it stands, talks remain at the preliminary stage.
Galatasaray and other suitors believe the lack of a new contract for Fernandes is a weak spot they can exploit.
Manchester United are readying themselves for a £42.7million swoop for their captain Bruno Fernandes from Galatasaray
Fernandes has one year left on his current deal with an option for a further year. He is already one of the best paid players in the club, behind Marcus Rashford, on around £220,000 a week.
The club captain was, however, hurt by the club’s stance last year when Al Hilal were prepared to offer £100m for him.
The club said it was up to Fernandes whether he wanted to leave and the Portugal international felt they should have expressed a greater desire to keep him, to underline his importance.
Fernandes went on to achieve a Premier League record 21 assists last season and is favourite to be crowned PFA Player of the Year for 2025-26 in Manchester next week.
Despite the allure of greater riches in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere, his ambition has been to stay at Old Trafford and see if he can realise his ambition of leading United to a Premier League title challenge.
Throught the turmoil of Ruben Amorim’s tenure and the revival under Michael Carrick, Fernandes has remained close to each coach and been a model professional leading by example on the pitch.
Fernandes, who will be speaking to an audience of fans at invite-only event at Manchester’s Arndale centre on Tuesday, said earlier this summer: ‘It’s not a question of loyalty. I could have gone two years ago, I could have gone three years ago, I could have gone last season, but I really like to be here.
‘I think that being successful at this club is something that I can never get at another club. The joy and everything I get, the day I get what I want from this club, I don’t think I will get that from any other club in the world.’ He told Sky Sports.
Michael Carrick’s side, however, insist the 31-year-old is not available for transfer at any price
‘I won the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup (but) what this club wants, what these fans want and what I want, myself and the team, we haven’t got that yet. Until my contract expires, I’m going to try.’
According to The Telegraph, Dursun Ozbek, the Galatasaray president, is on a mission to sign Fernandes and is prepared to essentially double his money.
The wage on offer is £18.3m annually, which, due to Turkey’s relaxed tax system, means he would take home twice what he earns at United.
The report suggests an offer from Galatasaray would feature an initial bid plus add-ons.
Performance-related add-ons reportedly include £1.3m for every title win up to £5.1m, plus £1.7m if Fernandes is the league’s top assister in his first season or £1.3m if he achieves the accolade in his second.
They could also include £850,000 if Galatasaray qualify for next season’s Champions League, plus another £850,000 if they reach the last-16 and £3m if they reach the quarter-finals.
United are continuing to look for at least one more signing this summer to strengthen Carrick’s hand.
They have bid for Leicester City midfielder Louis Page, along with Arsenal, and want a left-back to compete with Luke Shaw.
However, one midfielder who may yet leave is Toby Collyer who has attracted enquiries from West Bromwich Albion. Discussions are at an early stage over a permanent move.
