Manchester United shelve Bruno Fernandes contract talks until late 2026

Manchester United have shelved contract talks with Bruno Fernandes, with the club opting to prioritise summer signings over negotiations with their captain, according to a Mirror exclusive.

Fernandes is entering the final year of his £250,000-a-week contract, which contains an option to extend by a further 12 months. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has decided to put the midfielder’s long-term future on the back burner for now, with United planning to open formal negotiations before the end of 2026.

Despite the delay, United chiefs are relaxed about the situation. Before departing with Portugal for the World Cup in North America, Fernandes held talks with senior figures at the club and made clear he had no intention of leaving. Club bosses have been assured he will remain at Old Trafford for the foreseeable future.

Fernandes does have a release clause of £55 million, but United are confident it will not be triggered. The midfielder turns 32 in September, and the club believe the combination of his age and wage demands would deter potential suitors.

A key factor in Fernandes’ commitment is United’s promise to significantly strengthen the squad this summer. The club are close to completing a £35 million deal with Atalanta for midfielder Ederson, and manager Michael Carrick is also targeting a new centre-back and left winger.

Fernandes enjoyed his best individual season at United, winning multiple personal awards, and remains central to Carrick’s plans as the club prepare for a return to the Champions League next season. United also harbour ambitions of challenging for the Premier League title, and retaining their captain is considered a significant step toward that goal.