Report: Man United ready to sell star in major £70m move

Manchester United’s long term restructuring under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS has rarely felt as delicate as it does today. The latest indication of a major strategic pivot centres on Bruno Fernandes , whose future is once again in sharp focus. According to the original Caught Offside report, sources “expect bids” for the club captain, with Al Hilal and Al Ittihad stepping up their interest. The anticipated figure of around £70m feels telling, viewed internally as the type of sale that could help reshape United’s next recruitment cycle.

Caught Offside ’s reporting highlights a clear shift in tone inside Old Trafford. Fernandes is described as United’s “most sellable asset” and the piece underscores a growing openness to cashing in while his value remains high. One source notes that clubs “expect bids”, a sign that this is no longer speculative but something approaching inevitability.

United’s pursuit of ambitious midfield reinforcements, notably Elliot Anderson and Carlos Baleba, features heavily in the rationale. As the article puts it, Fernandes “has been identified as someone worth cashing in on to help fund those moves”. In a market shaped by hard financial rules and years of misallocation, it is logical that INEOS view controlled asset sales as a tool for renewal.

Photo IMAGO

There is sound logic behind selling at the top of the curve, but the risk remains substantial. Fernandes continues to deliver at a level few in Amorim’s squad can match. The original report emphasises that he is rated by FotMob as United’s “best performer this season” and is “top for assists and second for goals”. Those metrics illustrate more than productivity, they show influence.

In the short term, losing Fernandes would burden an evolving system already wrestling with consistency. Anderson and Baleba are promising but represent potential, not guaranteed output. Amorim is still moulding this squad into an aggressive, possession heavy unit and major leadership losses could force a tactical recalibration he might not welcome.

As one insider opinion suggests, “Fernandes may be ageing, but his numbers show no sign of decline”. With some elite players now extending their peak well into their mid to late thirties, age should not be used as the sole justification for an exit.

If United decide this is the final opportunity to bank significant revenue, then a summer sale could indeed support the long stated ambition of fielding a younger, more coherent midfield. But make no mistake, it will be a gamble that defines the next stage of the project. A captain with Fernandes’ output does not vanish without consequence.

As a Manchester United supporter, this report lands with an uncomfortable thud. Fernandes remains the heartbeat of the side and selling him feels like another example of the club taking two steps back to maybe move forward later. Supporters have heard similar promises before, where a major figure leaves and the replacements are meant to reshape the future, only for the squad to regress.

Ruben Amorim is into his second season and fans would argue he still has not been given a squad worthy of his ideas. Removing his most consistent performer could easily disrupt any progress. Many would look at Fernandes’ numbers and ask why the club are entertaining this at all. FotMob’s assessment of him as United’s best performer speaks volumes and fans see that every match day. Letting him go to fund Anderson or Baleba, talented though they may be, feels like a downgrade in the immediate term.

The disappointment stems from fear that United will again sell proven quality before they have established a stable and competitive core. Supporters know the midfield still lacks depth and leadership. Losing the captain when the project is so fragile feels reckless. Until United demonstrate that their recruitment can deliver sustained improvement, fans will remain wary of decisions like this.