Owen fires warning to Man Utd that it’s going to be ‘nigh on impossible’ to replace star who could leave in summer | OneFootball

Much to Manchester United fans’ dismay, Bruno Fernandes is facing an uncertain future heading into the summer window.

While the club captain is contracted to Old Trafford until 2027, plus the option of an additional year, there are doubts he’ll stay long enough to see out the deal.

Fernandes has been linked with moves away from United for the last two years, initially when Bayern Munich and Inter Milan established their interest in taking him on board, and last year, after Al-Hilal pledged to triple his wages if he pulled the curtains on his Red Devils career. 

He took some time to mull over the latter’s lucrative proposal before coming to the conclusion, with his wife’s intervention, that they wanted to remain in Manchester for the time being.

Why Fernandes is considering an Old Trafford departure

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

However, with United now once again in a period of transition following another statistically poor campaign, in which they’ll play their fewest games (40) since 1915, and Fernandes looking to add to his trophy cabinet before his age perhaps starts catching up to him, he’s contemplating whether a new venture would best suit all parties.

From the club’s perspective, they know they’ll receive a hefty fee that can then be reinvested in his successor, but could they really find someone to replicate the influential job that the 32-year-old does week in and week out?

When he scored against Tottenham Hotspur to seal a 2-0 victory last weekend, it marked Fernandes’ 200th goal contribution for United – only Wayne Rooney achieved the feat in fewer matches.

Reports in recent weeks have suggested that the board will hold talks with their Portuguese talisman before the World Cup begins to gauge where his head is at.

What Owen had to say about United’s Fernandes conundrum

(Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Should he decide it’s time to part ways with the club he’s represented for six years, Michael Owen thinks United face a mammoth task in replacing him.

“It’s an interesting one, isn’t it? Because of his age. He has the quality, and that experience he brings, but it’s a business, and everybody’s got a price,” said Owen, as per the Metro.

“If there’s going to be massive money that comes in, then it’s got to be a decision to be made. He’s obviously on big wages as well. But if he goes, it’s going to hit them hard. They’ll have to replace him with somebody good.

“Everybody is saying, ‘Oh, Manchester United are flying now, how many players do they need to get to the next level to maybe go and challenge for the title?’ when really, it’s how do they replace one or two that are going to go as well as adding to improve the quality.

“It’s a real tricky one because he is so good, you can understand if massive money comes for somebody of that age, why it could be something that Manchester United would look at.

“But trying to replace him would be nigh on impossible. So it’s watch this space, really, but it’s a bit of a conundrum for everybody involved.”

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