Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim has attempted to play down transfer talk linking Bruno Fernandes with a huge £100million move to the Saudi Pro League this summer
Ruben Amorim has reiterated that Bruno Fernandes remains "really important" for what Manchester United want to achieve. Transfer speculation continues to mount over the Portugal international after his comments last week.
Fernandes, 30, was the shining light in a rotten campaign for the Red Devils, who finished 15th in the Premier League. But United's failure to salvage their sorry season in the Europa League final - which also cost them Champions League qualification - has thrown the midfielder's future into doubt.
Al Hilal are willing to splash out a staggering £100million to bring Fernandes to the Saudi Pro League if the United captain is ready to call time on his Old Trafford career.
And while United as a club will consider serious offers for all of their players this summer, Amorim has once again made it clear that keeping Fernandes is a top priority ahead of the club's post-season tour of Asia.
“He's really important for us and really important for what we want to build with this team,” Amorim said when he was asked about what the future holds for Manchester United's talisman.
He added: “The last game the team was without pressure, they performed quite well, everybody wants the ball, the team has different moments and in different moments Bruno [Fernandes] takes responsibility.”
Fernandes' importance on the team may be well documented but United will need to raise additional funds if they are to overhaul the beleaguered squad that limped to the club's worst-ever finish in the Premier League era.
The Red Devils are poised to trigger the £62.5million release clause in the contract of Matheus Cunha, while Liam Delap, the Ipswich Town striker, is also on their radar and available for £30m. Club chief Jason Wilcox knows Delap well from their time at Manchester City, and it's understood United are leading the race for his signature.
Further signings will also be required if United are to rebuild and make things right next year and Amorim admitted that missing out on the riches that come hand in hand with Champions League qualification will make things harder in the transfer market.
“Omar [Berrada] is here, he can explain better than me. We always prepare two plans, one with Champions League, one without Champions League,” he admitted.
“Without Champions League, we don't need a big squad, we can control the squad in a better way, then we have a plan that is to bring some new players, of course, but our big plan is to improve the team that we have, is to improve our academy, that is the future, is not going to change so much because we have the FFP rules, we are not allowed to do much this summer.
“It's important to stick together. We are going to struggle, it is not going to be everything right away but I see the team improving and that is the most important thing.”
While United will count the cost of failing to reach the Champions League, Amorim feels there are, at least, some benefits for his broken team.
“The target is to win the first game. For us not to be in the Champions League could be an advantage to perform well, to build that core that we need for the future.”