Three exciting options to replace Bruno Fernandes if he leaves Man Utd

Manchester United are reportedly drawing up a shortlist of potential replacements for their captain, Bruno Fernandes, amid growing speculation over a £90million move to Real Madrid.

The Portuguese midfielder, who has delivered 16 goals and 16 assists this season despite United’s dismal 13th-place standing in the Premier League, has caught the eye of the Spanish giants, who see him as Luka Modric’s long-term successor.

With Fernandes’ future uncertain—his contract runs until 2027, with an option for an extra year—United’s hierarchy, under pressure from Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s INEOS cost-cutting regime, may reluctantly cash in to ease financial strain following redundancies and slashed budgets.

United have identified three key targets to fill Fernandes’ creative void, reports The Mirror.

First is Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, the 21-year-old German star who dazzled in their 2023-24 Bundesliga triumph, though his £100million-plus price tag could stretch United’s finances.

Next up is Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, a 24-year-old Georgian winger whose flair and versatility have lit up Serie A; his transfer fee could hit £80million, with competition from Liverpool looming.

Finally, there’s Porto’s 22-year-old playmaker Francisco Conceição, a cheaper option at around £40million, whose pace and vision have echoes of Fernandes’ early United days—his father, Sérgio, even coached Fernandes at Sporting Lisbon.

These options are all part of a contingency plan, with Fernandes still central to Ruben Amorim’s squad ahead of the Manchester Derby on April 6. However, United’s Europa League campaign remains their only realistic shot at glory this term, and losing their talisman could derail it.

Fan reaction on X hints at panic, with some urging the club to keep Fernandes at all costs, while others see a big sale as a chance to rebuild the team with the money. For now, United’s scouts are active, balancing Fernandes’ potential departure with the need to restore the club’s attacking edge.