Not something we all thought we'd be hearing but as it is almost transfer season, news like this was always going to come out.
It's also not entirely surprising as well as the Saudi's have been in for Bruno before. They've been linked to the United skipper for the past two seasons and it seems that they will be trying for a third.
The report that came out last night was that "Al Hilal’s management is meeting TODAY with Bruno Fernandes' agent to discuss the possibility of signing him before the Club World Cup" [@a_alhanyan] via AmorimEra_.
Another report [H_swilhy] not long after said that Al-Hilal made an OFFICIAL offer for the midfielder. What this offer is isn't actually known but some are saying a fee in the region of £100m is reported.
I was skeptical about this information but the more people spoke about it, the more I started to believe it was genuine.
Now that Fabrizio Romano has spoken about it, we can all agree that it is legit. He says that "Al Hilal have genuine interest in Bruno Fernandes as one of their top targets this summer" but also adds that both United and Ruben Amorim "see Bruno as crucial player" and that there has been NO talks between clubs.
Fernandes signed a contract extension which keeps him at United until 2027 after sitting down with the club before the start of this season to pen the deal. This extension saw his wage increase from £12.5m-a-year to £15.6m-a-year as well indicating just how integral United see their captain to this team and project.
Not only has Romano cleared up that Amorim wants him to stay but in a press conference not so long ago, the MUFC manager was asked about his fellow Portuguese's future amid links to Real Madrid. Amorim only smiled and said "No, not going to happen."
Update
In the last hour, there's been a major update regarding the price Al-Hilal are willing to offer United for Bruno Fernandes. Ben Jacobs says that the Saudi club are willing to pay £130m which would be a Premier League record for a player sale via The United Stand. A further report was that Al-Hilal were offering Bruno a yearly wage of £65m!
I feel that it isn't as simple as 'yes' or 'no' in terms of whether Bruno should be kept or not. When you dive deeper into it, there are several reasons for both arguments.
Let's say that Al-Hilal, who are 2nd in the Saudi Pro League, 6 points behind leaders Al-Ittihad, do come in with an offer of £100m or more, will INEOS not be tempted by such a price? We know how they've been when it comes to cost saving as they have gone to the absolute extreme in terms of trying to save money at the club.
Maybe some of the current staff will look at this potential deal and think that the club should do it so as to not have to sack them? Those in the canteen may think about it as well so there is no reduction in the food portions served at the training ground? Maybe ticket prices won't have to be as high as they are?
As United appears to be run more like a business than a football club, you wouldn't put it past INEOS and the Glazers to consider a deal of this magnitude.
There is also the player himself that we need to take into account. Perhaps Bruno will feel that I've done all that I can at this club, I'm not getting any younger (he's 30) and the club are in turmoil with the rebuild probably going to take many years.
There's also no guarantees that we will be playing European football next season as while things look good at the moment to make it into the Europa League final, it isn't a foregone conclusion. Then there is the matter of winning the final itself. We have to win the EL to play any European football next season as due to our position in the league, we have no chance of qualifying for the Champions League, Europa League or even the Conference League which is utterly embarrassing.
Does Bruno want to stay without European football?
Whilst Amorim did say no to a move for Bruno, if a ridiculous offer came in, perhaps he might think that with this money, I could buy a couple of players that would improve the team/squad and then we don't have to be so reliable on just one player?
We do need a squad overhaul and with the magnifico's magnificent new wage (£300k-a-week), with him gone, that will be another expense that has been removed and is part of the reason why players such as Rashford, Casemiro and Antony should be moved on.
The flip side to this is the importance of Bruno to this team and project under Amorim and INEOS.
It isn't necessarily on the player on what the club do. They just have to go out there and perform as well as they can every game which is something we cannot complain about when it comes to Bruno. Whether you like him or not, you simply cannot question his attitude and love for the club. Players like that are needed more than anything.
The skipper is also super influential to this team in more ways than one: his output going forward; his experience; his leadership; the man for the big moments. We do not have enough players like that.
People will say that he isn't a good captain and often compare him to those of the past. In this sense, he isn't but I believe he's the best captain we have for this team.
He is also ever-present as he is never injured and plays every game to the best of his ability. That availibility isn't something that is known to many players especially in this day-and-age. Despite his age of 30, it's thanks to this fitness and constant running ability that means that Bruno should be able to play for at least another 6-7 years.
We also see that without him, this team just doesn't look itself, they appear ruderless without their captain. He is the heart of the team and with his chaotic approach, I think he is perfect for this current United.
See? Many reasons to keep and sell him.
What would I do?
Earlier in the season between the start and February, I would probably say yes to this type of deal. I thought that Bruno wasn't performing anywhere near the level he should be even more so after the new contract, and that the output had dipped and the performances were awful for a player of his quality.
There were question marks over his leadership as well with the talk being that perhaps similarly to Maguire, maybe the captain's armband is too heavy for him.
Once Amorim came in with his new system and formation, we didn't know where the skipper would fit in. He is best as a no 10 but in a 3-4-2-1, there are two no 10s. Would he be able to play with someone by his side that far up the field?
The early stages suggested that he couldn't and maybe he needed to play deeper. This is exactly what the manager has done and it looked to be working as Bruno since February when he started to play as a no 8 more regularly, looked to have turned a corner with his form. 'I think he is a CM in this formation' was everyone's thoughts.
Due to the injuries though, Amorim was forced to use Casemiro who can only play as a CDM. Upon Ugarte's return, he had to play alongside his fellow South American meaning that Bruno had to move further forward again despite showing brilliant form as the no 8.
His form wasn't quite the same as a CAM with everyone once more questioning where his best position lies.
Thankfully though, in the past month or so, the magnifico's performances have been brilliant back in what many would consider his best position as that attacking midfielder.
He has also become an integral part of Ruben Amorim's setup and hopes for the future as he is a player that he needs for the nonce. Fernandes has become so important that Amorim chose to leave him on the bench for Sunday's defeat to Brentford so as to keep him fresh for Thursday's second leg against Bilbao. This isn't something that had been done previously.
Considering where we are as a team and club, I don't think we can afford to lose a player like him at the moment. This is why I would keep Bruno at United. We need him now more than ever.
What would you do with Bruno though? Would you take this offer or do you think more like me and that we should keep him, at least for now?
Bruno Fernandes is linked with a move to Al-Hilal | Bruno Fernandes: Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)