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At the close of the season, Manchester United are poised to overhaul their midfield lineup, with the futures of players like Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo, and Manuel Ugarte hanging in the balance at Old Trafford.
Despite declining a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia last summer, Fernandes’ recent explosive interview has stirred uncertainty about his standing at the club. He claimed United encouraged him to consider a move to Al-Hilal for over £100 million but failed to show the ‘courage’ to finalize the transfer. Fernandes plans to reassess his options after representing Portugal in the upcoming World Cup.
The Saudi Pro League remains a potential destination for Fernandes, who maintains communication with Cristiano Ronaldo and his former Sporting Lisbon mentor Jorge Jesus, both now with Al-Nassr, a team that pursued him during the previous transfer window.
On Monday, United reiterated their stance against selling Fernandes, yet they had previously prepared for a possible departure by outlining a backup strategy. This contingency plan aimed to set a new club-record transfer fee, potentially surpassing Ronaldo’s £80 million move to Real Madrid back in 2009.
Fernandes expressed his feelings, saying, ‘From the club’s side, I felt a bit like, “If you leave, it’s not so bad for us”. It hurts me a bit,’ reflecting on how the concept of loyalty seems to have evolved.
Manchester United could sell as many as four midfielders at the end of the season, led by starters Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro
Forgotten men Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo are also on the chopping block as United look to build a new midfield
Casemiro is United’s highest earner on £375,000 a week, and the club have so far shown little interest in triggering a one-year extension as they look to drive down the wage bill. Unless that situation changes, the Brazil star will be out of contract on June 30 and free to speak to foreign clubs over a summer move in just 16 days’ time.
One option would be for United to offer Casemiro a new contract on less money, after he re-established himself as a starter alongside Fernandes this season. Otherwise, Confidential understands Major League Soccer in the US is emerging as the most likely destination for the former Real Madrid man, who cost United £70m when he arrived from the Bernabeu on a four-year deal in 2022.
Casemiro is being selected ahead of Ugarte, who has struggled to justify his £50m transfer fee since moving from Paris Saint-Germain last year. The Uruguayan has made just two Premier League starts this season, and couldn’t even make it off the bench in Monday’s 4-4 draw with Bournemouth at Old Trafford – although he is likely to play at Aston Villa on Sunday, when Casemiro will be missing through suspension.
Ugarte is believed to be generating significant interest from Turkey and United would be prepared to cut their losses if they can recoup enough of his fee. Fellow Ineos-owned club Nice of Ligue 1 are also in contention to sign the 24-year-old, but he is reluctant to move there.
Mainoo’s future at his boyhood club is up in the air as he continues to be overlooked by Ruben Amorim. The England midfielder’s only start this season came in the Carabao Cup defeat by Grimsby in August, and he is desperate for first-team football so he can win back an England place before the World Cup.
Mainoo’s request to go out on loan in the summer was rejected by United because they couldn’t sign a replacement before the deadline, and he will try to leave again in January, with Napoli still his preferred destination.
The situation could again hinge on United signing a midfielder with Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Conor Gallagher, Carlos Baleba, Tyler Adams and Joao Gomes along the players who have been discussed.
United remain adamant that they won’t make any panic buys in January and will only sign a player if it’s a deal that can be brought forward from the summer. With so much uncertainty hanging over Fernandes, Casemiro, Ugarte and Mainoo, it’s likely there will be more than one new midfielder coming through the door. It’s not as though United have reinforcements coming through from the academy either, with Toby Collyer and Sekou Kone likely to go out on loan.
England stars Elliot Anderson and Adam Wharton are on United’s six-man shortlist to bolster their midfield ranks
Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba remains of interest, though his stock has fallen this season
Al-Ittihad’s Bruno bid
Even though Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr led the Saudi pursuit of Fernandes last summer, Confidential understands that Al-Ittihad – one of the other big four clubs backed by the kingdom’s Public Investment Fund – also held calls and meetings with representatives close to the United captain.
Karim Benzema is the star name at Al-Ittihad, and his brother is understood to have been closely involved – all while Cristiano Ronaldo made the pitch for Al-Nassr and the Al-Hilal president Fahad Bin Nafel was presenting his own case.
Those familiar with the talks have explained that there has been growing confidence for a while that the actual fee it would take to land Fernandes is closer to the £65-70m mark, rather than £100m.
The rebuttal of Al-Hilal did not deter Al-Ittihad and they are firmly in the mix to make another play of around £26-27m a year to the player, should he offer any encouragement that he would consider Saudi Arabia.
Al-Ittihad were not deterred by United rebutting Al-Hilal’s offer for Fernandes, and will be suitors again in the summer – having employed Karim Benzema to try to convince him
Semenyo’s the special one
Amorim described Antoine Semenyo as ‘a special player’ before United faced Bournemouth, and his performance in an incredible 4-4 draw at Old Trafford on Monday night only enhanced his reputation.
The Ghana international fired the first of Bournemouth’s three equalisers towards the end of the first half, racing clear of Mason Mount from close to halfway before beating Senne Lammens with a precise finish.
It’s well known that Semenyo has a £60.5m release clause in January which drops to around £50m in the summer, and United are one of a number of admirers. When club sources talk about fast-tracking a transfer to sign a target six months early, Semenyo falls into that category.
Landing the 25-year-old won’t be easy, however. Not only will United face competition from Manchester City, Liverpool and Tottenham, they also have to find a way of financing the deal when a defensive midfielder remains the priority next month.
Selling Joshua Zirkzee is one option. The Dutchman is wanted on loan by Roma and United could include an obligation to buy as part of the package, similar to the £38m clause in Rasmus Hojlund’s move to Napoli.
Unfortunately for Tyler Adams, the Bournemouth midfielder was unable to make an impression like Semenyo after he limped off in the early stages after hurting his left knee blocking a Matheus Cunha shot. Assuming Adams’ medial ligament injury isn’t too serious, he remains among United’s midfield options.
Antoine Semenyo scored his first Premier League goal since the start of October in United’s thrilling 4-4 draw with Bournemouth on Monday night
Unfortunately for Tyler Adams, the midfielder was unable to make an impression like Semenyo after he limped off early on after hurting his left knee blocking a Matheus Cunha shot
Hunt’s on for club mole
United have launched an inquiry into how Amorim’s plans to tweak his 3-2-4-1 system leaked out on the day of the Bournemouth game.
Amorim has stuck steadfastly to a back-three formation since joining United from Sporting Lisbon, but amended it slightly on Monday night with Diogo Dalot dropping from his wing-back role on the left flank to be a conventional full back in a four-man defence.
However, news of a change was circulated on Monday afternoon and United are concerned that it gave Bournemouth advance notice of their game plan on the day of the match. The club are determined to find out where the leak came from to stop it from happening again in future.
Asked about the switch after the game, Amorim said: ‘That is for you to discuss, not for me. I know that you guys know that I trained this week with a back four. I don’t know how, but that is a good thing for you guys to discuss this week.’
Finland friendly for Reds
Daily Mail Sport exclusively revealed last week that United have been in talks about taking on Hollywood-backed Wrexham in a pre-season friendly this summer.
It can now be revealed that Finland has been earmarked as the destination for the match, with discussions still ongoing.
Confidential understands United are exploring the prospect of playing two friendly matches in the Nordic countries in late July as they begin to assess their pre-season options.
A match against Wrexham in Finland is understood to be gathering momentum, while there have been suggestions of a second game against another opponent in Gothenburg, Sweden.
There won’t be time between the end of the campaign on May 24 and the start of the World Cup on June 11 for United to repeat their post-season visit to Malaysia and Hong Kong after the final game of last season, which earned the club around £10m.
United have made a habit of visiting Nordic countries in recent years, playing Leeds in a friendly in Stockholm in July
Ruben’s spa break
The facilities at Carrington might have improved significantly following a £50m upgrade over the last year, but it hasn’t stopped Amorim taking up a membership at a private health club.
Confidential understands the United boss signed up recently even though the training ground now boasts an improved gym, four pools and a bigger sauna and steam room close to his office at Carrington.
Smith in ref rage
Old Trafford was a real cocktail of emotions by the time referee Simon Hooper blew for full time against Bournemouth.
In the tunnel, Hooper was in the eye of the storm for both sides. United were unimpressed that Semenyo didn’t see red for grabbing the throat of Dalot, but Bournemouth captain Adam Smith was as upset as anyone, claiming that his side were the victims of an injustice.
‘Even the United players said it wasn’t handball!’ Smith told Confidential, in reference to the free-kick decision that led to Fernandes making it 3-3. ‘As a defender I just do not know what to do any more. It’s one yard (away). It’s not even one yard, it’s right next to me!
‘It’s hit this (the top of his sleeve). I thought this wasn’t handball any more? The ref didn’t even want to speak to me. Then he booked me after the goal because I went up to him. It’s really frustrating.’
Smith fired a warning in United’s direction that while there are signs of progress for Amorim, his team are still a soft touch defensively.
‘The move (switching from a back three to back four) is really tough to defend,’ he said. ‘Mason Mount comes in, drops down deep, Dalot goes really high. Luke Shaw sometimes comes really high and wide. Cunha drops down. On the other hand on the counter you can really, really punish them. So maybe that’s why it was such a high-scoring game.’
Adam Smith (second right) tried to get in front of Semenyo, who seemed to grab Diogo Dalot (centre) by the throat
A-mass scramble for Harry
Amorim raised plenty of eyebrows with his comments that academy full back Harry Amass is ‘struggling’ at Sheffield Wednesday.
While this was later clarified privately to mean Wednesday’s league position – they are bottom of the Championship on minus nine points after deductions for financial difficulties – it certainly left figures close to the player suitably unimpressed.
Plenty of clubs would disagree that Amass, Wednesday’s player of the month for November, is finding it hard right now. Confidential understands that Championship promotion hopefuls Millwall and Stoke City are among around a dozen teams to have made contact about Amass’ availability in January.
Amass is loving life at Wednesday and they are eager to keep him for the remainder of the season. But all options remain on the table.
Confidential understands that Championship promotion hopefuls Millwall and Stoke City are among a dozen teams to have made contact about Harry Amass’ availability in January
United stars make hospital plea
United’s stars are backing an appeal to build Manchester’s first-ever in-hospital cinema. The £1.1m Manchester MediCinema Appeal is hoping to deliver a state-of-the-art, fully accessible 50-seat cinema inside Manchester Royal Infirmary, benefiting patients of all ages being treated there and at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital – at no cost to the NHS.
Lammens, Ugarte, Ayden Heaven and Tom Heaton have all recorded video messages to pledge their support to the campaign, with United understood to be very keen to help. A selection of players are due to visit the hospital later this week.
Led by Manchester Foundation Trust Charity – which raises funds for Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust’s family of hospitals and is fronted by Freddie Flintoff – the aim is to deliver a cinema that will show 260 films a year.
How to Donate: Text CINEMA and your chosen amount, up to £20, to 70580 (texts cost donation amount plus one standard network rate message) or visit Manchester Foundation Trust Charity’s website to give any amount.
