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Manchester United have been told that they should not ignore any “stupid“ transfer offers from the Saudi Pro League for Bruno Fernandes. Interest from that part of the world was shown in the Portuguese midfielder over the summer of 2025 and could be rekindled 12 months on, with the Red Devils needing to decide whether or not to cash in on a player that is now 31 years of age.

• Fernandes contract: Terms of deal at Old Trafford

  Interest in Fernandes was fended off in the last window, with United’s club captain making no push for the exits at Old Trafford. He is tied to a contract through to 2027 that includes the option for a further 12-month extension.

  Fernandes remains a talismanic figure for the Red Devils, and his presence would be missed were a sale to be sanctioned. United do, however, have some big decisions to make on his future – with his market value set to decrease the older he gets and the shorter his current terms become.

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  Man Utd sale: Should Red Devils listen to offers for Fernandes?

  Quizzed on whether Fernandes will still be a United player at the start of the 2026-27 season, former Red Devils defender Wes Brown – speaking in association with – told GOAL: “I think he will be. Regardless of what happens with Bruno, I know that he would really love to stay. At the same time, if stupid offers get brought in, what can you do?

  “He’s getting to that age now where he still wants to be part of it, but you can’t just dismiss everything because that’s not how the world works. I don’t think anyone would take it too personally if that did happen. He’s done everything he can to try and help the team. At some point it will come to that crunch if someone comes in – probably talking Saudi with that money. If that happens again, whatever happens you can’t blame Bruno. You have to accept that he did right by what he needed to do and then move on again.

  “You need a player with that same energy. That’s what people don’t get – the same energy. Sometimes my mates say ‘he does this, he does that’, which is because sometimes nobody else is doing anything! He’s trying to do something. People don’t understand that and get it, which is fine. But he is definitely a player that you need, or need someone like that. Not necessarily to replace, but in the same category. If he was to go, it would be a big miss.”

• How close did Fernandes come to leaving Man Utd in 2025?

  Fernandes said of the transfer saga that he became caught up in during the summer of 2025: “I had the conversations with Al-Hilal. Everyone is aware of that. Everyone knows that. There were also other clubs that tried after Al-Hilal, but obviously my answer wouldn't change.

  “From Europe, I had some people talking to me, but we never got into the place where we would be offering on the table or not. Because it's all very nice and people want you, but then they need to put the money on the table for the club. If not, the club won't allow me to go.”

  He added on talks with United bosses, including head coach Ruben Amorim: “He wanted me to stay. The club said the same. And I always said that if the club was like ‘Bruno, we want to cash in, you are 30 years old. We want to make some money. We don't think you can be part of the future project’, or whatever, I would be like, OK, I have to find a solution for myself, whatever is best for me and my family. And I will leave.

  “But obviously that wasn't the case. I felt that I was still part of the plan, that I could still help the club to achieve whatever was our aims. And that's what made me stay. Obviously, I have a big connection with the fans, with the club, also the country. My family feels very well here.”

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  When will Fernandes make a decision on Man Utd future?

  Fernandes is now shelving any talks regarding his future until after the 2026 World Cup. He went on to say: “As I've always said, I feel good here. I want to achieve my dreams still. But obviously I can't talk by the side of the club. I've seen a lot of news. I've seen a lot of people talking that I had an agreement to go already next season. If the club has done that agreement, it wasn't made with me.

  “So I haven't spoken with anyone. I could tell you that there are still people talking to me and saying that they will be very eager to have me next year, of course. But from my side, that's not talked about. Because my agent also knows how I work, so if he wants to talk to me, it will be after the World Cup. Because until then, I won't speak to anyone.”

  Fernandes joined United from Sporting in January 2020. He has taken in 302 appearances for the club, scoring 100 goals. FA Cup and Carabao Cup successes have been savoured with the Red Devils, while suffering final heartache in two Europa League finals.

Tottenham Hotspur have made a decent start to the campaign under Thomas Frank and could now be set to make a play for one of the world’s most renowned attackers to bolster their forward line, according to ex-Everton CEO Keith Wyness.

Admittedly, striking a balance has proved tricky for Spurs this season when it comes to maintaining Premier League consistency. Five victories, three losses and three draws have led to a respectable return now that the international break is here.

Still, there is an acknowledgment that Tottenham are struggling to put together free-flowing attacking moves, as evidenced by the fact they have kept the ball for a modest 53.7% of the time in top-flight action.

In attack, Randal Kolo Muani’s struggles and Dominic Solanke’s injury problems have left Frank without a prolific goalscorer to rely on, with Joao Palhinha, Richarlison, and Brennan Johnson tied as their best contributors on four strikes apiece.

Wales international Johnson divides some segments of the Spurs support and doesn’t always set the heather alight, though his knack of scoring crucial goals is something to take real encouragement from.

Regardless, Athletic correspondent Jack Pitt-Brooke told the BBC that he believes the former Nottingham Forest man is stuck between a rock and a hard place in North London.

With that in mind, Spurs could well now turn to a high-profile alternative to bolster the wide areas, per Wyness.

Wyness: Tottenham could sign Real Madrid star Rodrygo

According to the former Premier League official, in conversation with Football Insider, Tottenham could make a move for Real Madrid winger Rodrygo despite Liverpool also being in the hunt to sign the Brazil international.

Wyness even moots the possibility of a sensational Liverpool swap deal involving Florian Wirtz after hearing ‘whispers’, but believes that, if any Premier League side are going to win the race, then Spurs are most likely and will pay the money required.

This campaign, Rodrygo has completed ten dribbles on league duty and also directed five of his ten shots on target, proving that he is a livewire despite having to contend with premium talent such as Kylian Mbappé and Vinícius Jr.

At 24 years of age, it is suspected that he may consider a move to the Premier League after falling out of contention as an automatic starter, and Spurs may be at the front of the queue given he would likely step straight in as a key member of their squad.

“Why go down that route,” Aakash Chopra asks on ESPNcricinfo’s T20 Time Out show

ESPNcricinfo staff11-Sep-20251:55

Why did Suryakumar let Siddique bat despite being out?

Suryakumar Yadav, the India captain, withdrew an appeal against Junaid Siddique on Wednesday night in Dubai despite the batter being given out by the third umpire.The incident took place in the 13th over of the UAE innings. Siddique was beaten while attempting a pull off Shivam Dube, and was found outside the crease when wicketkeeper Sanju Samson collected the ball and under-armed a direct hit to the stumps at the striker’s end. As soon as he missed the ball, Siddique seemed to point towards the towel that Dube appeared to have dropped while delivering the ball.Even as the square-leg umpire referred the decision to third umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge, Suryakumar walked up to the umpire at the bowler’s end to have a chat, and withdrew the appeal after he saw the replays on the big screen. The third umpire had declared Siddique out by that stage.Related

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Siddique was out one legal ball later, when he toe-ended a slog off a Dube slower delivery to Suryakumar at mid-on to leave UAE 55 for 9. It was Dube’s third wicket; UAE were eventually bowled out for 57, which India overhauled in 4.3 overs.On ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Aakash Chopra suggested that Suryakumar’s decision was based on the match situation at the time, which was heavily in India’s favour.”It’s event-specific in my opinion, it wouldn’t have happened if [Pakistan’s] Salman Agha was playing on 14th [of September] and the game is in the balance, and he’s just roaming around, he [Suryakumar] won’t do that,” Chopra said. “It was a good throw, presence of mind from Sanju to hit the stumps.”If he was [outside the crease], it should be out, in my opinion. But opinions may vary. The problem is the moment you bring in ethics and generosity, it opens a can of worms: ‘oh, you did this today, why are you not doing the same thing tomorrow?’ Why go down that route?”Will you do it? If that’s the case, it’s like walking. You nick it and you walk. But the day you do not walk, that’s the day that decides which side of the divide you are on and that’s when you look like a hypocrite. I’m not saying SKY is going to do it again, or not do it again. But if it is within the rules and the umpire has given it out, just stay out. That’s it.”India went on to pull off their fastest chase in men’s T20Is, in terms of overs left – eclipsing the 6.3 overs’ chase against Scotland at the T20 World Cup in Dubai in 2021.