If Manchester United’s season is to end in Europa League glory, then the Red Devils will once again only have one man to thank – Bruno Fernandes – with the talismanic skipper having been simply sensational in 2025.
Following a muted start to the campaign, which notably saw the Portuguese playmaker dismissed on three separate occasions, the 30-year-old has come alive following the January trip to Anfield, proving simply masterful as a number ten or in a deep-lying berth.
In all, the former Sporting CP star now boasts 37 goals and assists in all competitions, a return that includes 11 goals involvements from just 12 appearances in Europe’s second tier competition.
With six knockout stage goals to his name already, the £300k-per-week hero is leading Ruben Amorim’s charge toward silverware and the ensuing Champions League qualification. Let’s just hope he sticks around to reap the rewards of his impact…
The latest on Bruno Fernandes' future
Having signed a bumper new deal last summer, extending his contract until the summer of 2027, Fernandes later revealed that he had turned down an “offer” from elsewhere, in order to stay put in Manchester.
Such unsurprising interest appears to have been renewed by all accounts, with it having been widely reported that Saudi-based side, Al Hilal, are keen to make a mega move to sign the midfield maestro this summer,
As per GIVEMESPORT, the Saudi Pro League outfit are believed to have made Fernandes a ‘top target’ after missing out on Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, having been left with around £510m to spend amid the Egyptian’s decision to remain at Anfield.
The suggestion is that in the case of United’s captain, he has received an offer of around £65m-per-season in wages, although he is yet to respond, with alternative reports outlining that INEOS have no intention of letting their star man depart.
Perhaps, the new regime will need to convince Fernandes that a brighter future lies ahead at Old Trafford, with marquee signings needing to be made to ease the longstanding burden on his shoulders.
Latest on Man Utd's transfer search
Rumours are rife regarding United’s pursuit of wantaway Wolverhampton Wanderers man, Matheus Cunha, while Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday that the club are also interested in re-signing Torino goalkeeper, Vanja Milinković-Savić, with the Serbian stopper previously on the books as a teenager, albeit while failing to make a first-team appearance due to work permit issues.
Alongside the signing of a new man in the sticks to either compete with or replace Andre Onana, a further priority appears to the addition of a new centre-forward, with Rasmus Hojlund having scored just four Premier League goals in 2024/25 to date.
According to Caught Offside, one name believed to be on Amorim’s radar is RB Leipzig powerhouse, Benjamin Sesko, with United joining the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool in the race for his signature.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The report suggests that the Premier League quartet are all preparing bids for the Slovenian striker, worth in the region of €70m (£60m), albeit with the Bundesliga outfit said to be looking for closer to €90m (£77m).
This follows prior claims from Manchester Evening News journalist, Samuel Luckhurst, that United have maintained contact with the 21-year-old’s representatives since being linked with a move back in the summer of 2022, having also rejected the chance to sign him for just £2.5m back in 2019.
Having signed Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee in recent years, the addition of another young centre-forward may have alarm bells ringing – although Sesko appears to be at a different level altogether.
Why Man Utd need to sign Benjamin Sesko
There should hardly be any real surprise regarding the goalscoring woes of both Hojlund and Zirkzee in recent times, considering their fortunes prior to moving to Manchester.
Indeed, in the case of the Dane, he had scored just ten goals for Atalanta in 2022/23, while for his Dutch counterpart, the 23-year-old had netted only 12 times for Bologna last season.
Now with just seven league goals between them in 2024/25, an upgrade is certainly needed, with Amorim in desperate need of someone to feed off Fernandes’ relentless creativity.
Bruno Fernandes
84
Cole Palmer
84
Mohamed Salah
83
Enzo Fernandez
75
Bryan Mbeumo
66
Dejan Kulusevski
65
Youri Tielemans
60
Mikkel Damsgaard
59
Martin Odegaard
57
Andreas Pereira
56
Described as a “creative machine” by departing Manchester City hero, Kevin De Bruyne, the Portugal international tops the division once again for most chances created this season, alongside Chelsea’s Cole Palmer.
In Sesko then, United could finally find the solution they have been craving, with the former Red Bull Salzburg man having scored 39 goals in just 85 games during his time in Germany, including 21 goals in the current campaign across all fronts.
At 6 foot 4 and with a cannon of a right foot, the in-demand marksman truly is a goalscoring monster, with former Old Trafford star, Dwight Yorke describing him as his “ideal signing”, as he is “similar to Alexander Isak”.
That likeness to the Newcastle United talisman – who is also 6 foot 4 – bodes well considering the impact that the Swede has made since his £63m switch to St James’ Park, having now racked up 62 goals from just 107 games, including 23 league goals this term.
While Sesko has only scored 13 Bundesliga goals to date, he has only missed ten big chances compared to Isak’s 18, while the pair are actually alike with regard to their ball-carrying prowess, having averaged 1.2 and 1.3 successful dribbles per game, respectively, as per Sofascore.
There may well be something of a gamble in signing another player of potential rather than necessarily proven quality, but the chance to partner Fernandes with his own Isak is a mouthwatering prospect.
Whatever lies ahead for Amorim’s side, be it Champions League qualification or ultimate disappointment, they won’t be going anywhere fast next season without an elite level number nine.
Their new Amad: Amorim wants Man Utd to sign "world-class" £34m winger
Manchester United could be set to make a move for a star who could be Ruben Amorim’s next Amad Diallo.
6 ByEthan LambMay 7, 2025
