Man Utd want to double Bruno Fernandes’ wages after latest masterclass

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 3 min read

Bruno Fernandes produced another masterclass as Manchester United came from behind to defeat West Ham in the Premier League on Saturday.

United won their ninth straight top-flight away game as the Portugal international came off the bench to inspire a 3-1 win.

After Fernandes played a key role in that comeback, a report in The Mirror suggested United are ready to double his wages.

Fernandes is reported to earn around £100,000-a-week as part of the four-and-a-half-year contract he signed in January after moving from Sporting.

Eager to keep the attacking midfielder happy and end any interest from the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona, United are poised to substantially improve those terms.

They are said to be comfortable with doing so even though they signed Fernandes under a year ago.

The report suggests United realise that even though he is under contract until 2025, and has the option for a further year, his current deal does not recognise his importance to the club.

Fellow midfielder Paul Pogba – whose long-term future remains uncertain – is reportedly on £300,000-a-week, while David de Gea’s wage is around £350,000.

Meanwhile, Fernandes’ salary is at the same level as out-of-favour Jesse Lingard and back-up goalkeeper Dean Henderson, which fails to reflect his value.

Bruno Fernandes already indispensable

An abysmal first-half showing against West Ham saw United lucky to go in at the interval only 1-0 down.

Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer made two substitutions at half-time, bringing on Fernandes and Marcus Rashford for Donny van de Beek and Edinson Cavani.

It was a decision which changed the game.

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Fernandes recorded an incredible eight key passes in the second half alone, worth a game-high 1.04 expected assists.

He assisted Pogba’s stunning long-range equaliser and then created a second big chance when Rashford struck the post.

Fernandes completed 16 passes in the final third – the best total of anyone on the pitch despite his limited minutes.

The 26-year-old has a FC rating of 7.6 in the Premier League this season, easily United’s best.

It ranks third in the whole top flight behind only Jack Grealish and Harry Kane of players to feature for at least 500 minutes.

Last season he was also comfortably his team’s highest-rated player and third in the league overall with a 7.4 average rating across 26 appearances.

Since making his debut in February, Fernandes has 36 goal involvements in 38 games across all competitions.

That is comfortably the most of any Premier League player in that period.

He has scored 22 goals and laid on 14 assists, with his 2019/20 exploits meaning he was voted United fans’ player of the year last season.

With Fernandes working wonders on the pitch and already established as an influential figure in the dressing room, it is no surprise United want him feeling happy and valued.