Man Utd braced for second transfer blow as Bruno Fernandes back-up plan emerges

Manchester United are making big moves in the transfer market having already signed Matheus Cunha from Wolves, while Bryan Mbeumo is expected to arrive soon from Brentford

Manchester United are set to be handed two transfer blows after reports that Saudi clubs are rivalling them to sign Napoli forward Victor Osimhen and Atalanta’s Ederson. The Red Devils are preparing for a big summer in the transfer market as Ruben Amorim looks to overhaul his struggling squad that finished 15th in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have already signed Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and look close to signing Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, but Amorim won’t be satisfied there.

After watching forwards Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee score just seven goals between them in the Premier League this season, Amorim will be desperate for more firepower.

United have been linked with a move for Napoli’s Osimhen, who has just spent the season on loan at Galatasaray. However, his future looks finished in Naples after falling out with boss Antonio Conte and expressing a desire to leave.

But according to L’Equipe, Saudi officials are currently in talks over a deal for Osimhen – with Al-Hilal eager for the player to join should former Fulham star Aleksandar Mitrovic end up leaving.

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Al-Hilal are also interested in Ederson, who they have turned their attentions to after being turned down by United captain Bruno Fernandes, who wants to continue playing in Europe.

Amorim has prioritised strengthening his options in the middle of the park, but the club’s priority is bolstering their attack – with Cunha the first step in that plan.

United plan to make more movements towards signing a new central midfielder once they have confirmed a few more outgoing players, with Casemiro not getting any younger at 33. Amorim is a huge admirer of Ederson, who started 32 times for Atalanta this season.

But now Al-Hilal look set to disrupt United’s summer plans by pushing for both Osimhen and Ederson – with the Saudi side able to offer much higher wages – after being rejected by Fernandes.

With Fernandes likely to stay, it does mean United won’t collect the £100m fee that Al-Hilal were ready to pay – meaning they’ll have to find more ways of spending their money while also staying within PSR regulations.

Al-Hilal were willing to hand Fernandes £700,000-a-week if he moved to Saudi Arabia, but Fernandes has said no to the switch – despite being aware of the riches on offer and how it would benefit United.

Fernandes doesn’t want to uproot his family in Manchester and make a major cultural change by moving to the Middle East. He is also eager to play more football at the highest level in Europe for the time being.

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