Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal are reportedly preparing a fresh attempt to sign Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United.
A Saudi writer said earlier this month that Al Hilal, who qualified for the Club World Cup this summer, had first spoken with Fernandes’ representatives about a possible transfer.
Following United’s 4-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao last week, manager Ruben Amorim reiterated his desire to retain his captain at Old Trafford.
Although the Portuguese midfielder’s contract with United is set to end next summer, he has shown no signs of wanting to quit the team.
Journalist Ben Jacobs, however, claims that Al Hilal is still pursuing the player and is scheduling a new meeting with his representation “this week.”
And it is added that Fernandes will have just one week to give a ‘final answer’ on whether he wants to sign for the club.
Al Hilal have identified Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans as an alternative option for if Fernandes rejects a move.
Al Hilal would still need to negotiate with Manchester United even if the midfield player was amenable to the transfer.
Real Madrid was reportedly unwilling to pay £100 million to transfer the 30-year-old to the Bernabeu, according to a January report. If United were to win the Champions League, the asking price would undoubtedly soar.
To qualify for European football the next season, Amorim’s team must overcome Tottenham in the Europa League final on May 21. The outcome could have a significant impact on Fernandes’ future with the team.
However, the Portuguese player said in March that he declined an offer from an unidentified club to leave Old Trafford last summer, and that discussions about his future with then-manager Erik ten Hag focused more on whether he would continue to be an important member of the team than on whether he would want to leave.
He said: “We talked about the possibility of me leaving the club or staying. They said what they wanted from me.
“I just asked if they still see me as part of the future of the club or not. I spoke at the time with Ten Hag also.
“He was very clear with me, the club was very clear with me, that they thought I would be a big part of this rebuild. I thought that we could be successful.”
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