Manchester United are in contract talks with Bruno Fernandes amid the player receiving a lucrative proposal from Galatasaray.

The Turkish club offered the 31-year-old a salary of €20million (£17.1m;$23.2m) a year, but Fernandes wants to remain at United and is in discussions about a new deal. His existing terms, signed in August 2024, run until 2027, with the option of an additional 12 months.

Fernandes had a €65m release clause which was only open to foreign clubs earlier this summer, but that has since expired. United are not open to selling Fernandes after the expiration of that clause and maintain they have not received any contact from clubs over the Portugal international. Last year, Fernandes was the subject of major interest from Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Galatasaray have made a number of high-profile transfers in recent years, including the 2024 move for Victor Osimhen and the acquisition of Leroy Sane from Bayern Munich last summer. The Athletic reported last week that they had submitted an offer worth €45m for Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli, but the player turned down the move.

Fernandes returned to pre-season training with United at the start of August, after representing Portugal in their run to the World Cup round of 16, and played in his side’s final three warm-up friendlies.

Fernandes enjoyed a strong 2025-26 season, culminating in winning the Football Writers’ Association men’s footballer of the year award. Alongside scoring nine league goals, he provided a record-breaking 21 league assists, setting an all-time competition record for the most assists in a single campaign.

The midfielder has been United’s player of the season in five of the seven campaigns he has played in — only Cristiano Ronaldo (2021-22) and Marcus Rashford (2022-23) have ever beaten him to the accolade — since signing from Sporting CP in January 2020.

Fernandes joined United from Sporting for an initial fee of £47m in January 2020 and has made 327 appearances across six and a half seasons, scoring 107 goals.

He has been United captain since the start of the 2023-24 season, after Harry Maguire announced he would no longer be leading the side.

Fernandes has won the FA Cup and Carabao Cup while at United, and has helped his side reach the Europa League final in 2021 and then again, four years later, in 2025.

What makes sense for United and Fernandes?

Bruno Fernandes is the FWA Player of the Year and was integral to United reclaiming a place in the Champions League after two seasons out of Europe’s top competition.

His importance to the team is clear — he broke the Premier League record for assists in a campaign last year — but so too is his influence around the club. During United’s pre-season tour, in Dublin and Wroclaw, he spent hours signing autographs for fans, and he is excellent with guiding academy players. The value of those standards is hard to quantify.

But each summer since INEOS took control of United’s football operation his future has come into question, most strongly last year when Al Hilal made a huge offer worth up to €40million annually. In interviews, Fernandes was open about the incredible financial opportunity, but insisted football came first, still aiming for the chance to win major trophies. Those same principles appear to apply this time round, with Galatasaray now offering another big pay rise, but Fernandes wishing to continue at Old Trafford.

Of course, United’s view on all this is interesting. Last year their response made Fernandes think they would be open to cashing in. This time they are insisting he is not for sale at any price.

It is in that context that talks are ongoing over a contract extension, with his current terms ending in 2027, although there is a plus-one option. That deal was agreed in August 2024.

Now Casemiro has left, it is believed only Marcus Rashford earns higher than Fernandes in United’s squad.

But so far no agreement has been reached between United and their captain, and all parties are weighing up what makes sense for arguably the best player in England last year, who turns 32 in September.