Manchester United are preparing to open contract negotiations with Bruno Fernandes, following the midfielder's record-breaking Premier League season. The 31-year-old set a new single-season assists record with 21, surpassing Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne, in Sunday's 3-0 win over Brighton.
Fernandes, who also scored in that match, has been revitalised since Michael Carrick took over as interim manager in January. Carrick restored the Portuguese to his preferred No10 role in a 4-2-3-1 formation, moving away from Ruben Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system where Fernandes played deeper. Since the change, he has provided 13 assists.
However, United face a challenge to retain their captain, as transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reports that Fernandes has a £57 million release clause in his current contract. The clause could be triggered this summer unless the player agrees to new terms that remove it. Romano claims United are 'open to reward' Fernandes after his stellar campaign, as they build for the 2026-27 season under Carrick as permanent head coach.
Fernandes played a key role in United's return to the Champions League for the first time since the 2023-24 season under Erik ten Hag. He had opportunities to leave last summer, reportedly rejecting an approach from Al-Hilal, and has previously stated he felt United wanted to sell him in December. Saudi Arabian clubs and other European sides are believed to be monitoring his situation.
