Man Utd were ready to accept bids for £60m man, now he’s playing like Bruno
INEOS’ ‘mission 21’ has laid out the aim for Manchester United to claim their 21st league title by 2028, a point that would mark a 15-year gap from their previous Premier League crown under Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is a crying shame that such a barren run has coincided with the arrival of one of the club’s modern greats, Bruno Fernandes, with the Portuguese’s Old Trafford career likely to come and go without securing a true top honour.
Out of contract in 2027, the 31-year-old may well miss the boat if INEOS’ plan does pan out, with the midfielder having spoken openly about his frustrations at having not claimed major silverware, even while winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in recent seasons.
Now something of a statesmanlike figure at the club, the United skipper hasn’t been afraid to air his grievances of late, suggesting that the Old Trafford hierarchy were keen to move him on over the summer.
Fear is creeping in that 2026 could be the year that the ex-Sporting CP man does finally drift off to pastures new, with it already looking like the new year could bring with it another major overhaul in Manchester.
The Man Utd players INEOS could sell in 2026
Fernandes has already suggested that he won’t discuss his future until after next summer’s World Cup, although with the playmaker set to have just a year to run on his deal at that stage, it would be no surprise if there is to be a shaking off the hands and an emotional farewell prior to next season.
There is a world in which the £300k-per-week star’s three other senior midfield colleagues could also be moved on, with Casemiro’s own contract expiring in June, while Manuel Ugarte has been touted for a move next month after sliding down the pecking order.
Even such uncertainty hasn’t aided Kobbie Mainoo’s standing either, with the Englishman – who could depart on loan in January – also in line for a possible exit, should the two parties fail to agree fresh terms on a deal that also expires in 2027.
Away from the midfield unit, Joshua Zirkzee – who has scored just four Premier League goals to date – has been tipped for his own exit in the New Year, with fellow striker Rasmus Hojlund likely to see his Napoli loan switch made permanent.
Speaking of loans, Marcus Rashford remains in line to stay put at Barcelona, considering the Catalan side boasts a £26m buy option, while INEOS are believed to be prepared to allow Aston Villa loanee Jadon Sancho to walk away for nothing at the end of the season.
The lack of a buy option in Andre Onana’s own temporary move to Trabzonspor ensures that United will have to find a permanent home for the Cameroonian, with it looking incredibly unlikely that the ex-Inter Milan man will feature again back at his parent club.
The 29-year-old ‘keeper joined amid what has proved to be a dismal 2023 window, although at least one of those summer signings is at least beginning to flourish.
Man Utd's former flop could be Bruno's in-house replacement
As stated, at a time when United needed to kick on under Erik ten Hag, following a second-place finish and League Cup win in 2022/23, the prior regime proceeded to splash the cash on Onana, Hojlund and Mason Mount.
Two of those players, albeit now temporarily, are no longer even at United, while Mount might well have joined them if things had worked out differently, with reports over the summer suggesting that INEOS were ready to accept bids for him.
The Englishman, signed from Chelsea on a deal that could reach £60m, was also included among a list of players who were ‘readily available’, with the Champions League winner having endured a miserable, injury-hit first two seasons at the club.
According to reports, CEO Omar Berrada wishes to implement a two-season policy with new signings, giving them just two years to impress or risk being moved on.
That plan would perhaps hint at why Mount’s future was in doubt, after making just 46 appearances for the club in 2023/24 and 2024/25, although Ruben Amorim is surely thankful that no such move occurred, with the midfielder now looking like a key cog in the Portuguese’s set-up.
Evidently, this has already been Mount’s best season at Old Trafford by far, having netted in wins over Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Wolves, with United losing just one game that he has started in 2025/26 – the opening day loss to Arsenal.
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The need to carefully manage his minutes has been a factor in a lack of real consistent game time, although the 26-year-old has now started three of the last four games, while looking particularly impressive away at Molineux.
Mount stats vs Wolves
Stat
Record
Minutes
85
Touches
46
Goals
1
Pass accuracy
90%
Dribbles
0/2
Fouls won
3
Long balls
2/2
Passes in opposition half
20/21
Stats via Sofascore
Operating in Fernandes’ former role as part of the front three, Mount is an infectious pressing machine, while his recent glut of goals has highlighted that he does also boast a similar end product in front of goal when at his best.
Indeed, back in 2021/22 at Stamford Bridge, the Cobham graduate reached double figures for both goals and assists in the league, while starting in both the 2021 Champions League final and the European Championship showpiece later that summer.
Of course, having not registered an assist this season, his creative quality hasn’t quite reached its prior level, although he does rank in the top 11% for attacking-midfielders in the division for progressive passes per 90, as per FBref.
That knack for picking out a pass and spraying balls to either flank could spark tenative hopes of Mount even attempting to fill Fernandes’ void in a deeper role, should the skipper depart, with his stunner at Palace ensuring he could also take on the Portuguese’s set-piece mantle later down the line.
A player now in that Fernandes camp of looking like a nailed-on starter if fit, considering United’s record when he does feature from the start, INEOS must be thankful that they didn’t decide to cash in over the summer.
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