15 Sept 2026 13:07 BST |
4 min read
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Ex-Manchester United striker Michael Owen has urged his former club to finalise a contract extension agreement with Bruno Fernandes amid lengthy negotiations with the 32-year-old.
Fernandes’ current deal at Old Trafford is due to expire next summer and although there is an option to extend his stay by a further 12 months, the Portugal midfielder could feasibly look to leave the club following interest from clubs in Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano have both confirmed that Fernandes remains in contract extension talks with the Man Utd hierarchy, but the former has revealed that negotiations are currently at an impasse, with no breakthrough in sight.
As a result, Fernandes, who joined Man Utd for €65 million, has been strongly linked with a possible Old Trafford exit, and he will no doubt have suitors across world football after winning the PFA Player of the Year award last season.
The Man Utd captain has played every available minute so far this season, scoring four goals and providing one assist in five games, and Owen has urged his former club to finalise a new deal, despite the fact Fernandes is now 32 years old.
Man Utd urged to finalise Bruno Fernandes contract extension
“Lots of people talk about ageing players and not giving them new contracts but I just think Bruno Fernandes is such an important part of Manchester United,” Owen told Metro.
“I don’t care about his age. If they lost him, then they’d take a massive, massive step back. Obviously, you’ve got to balance the books, the finances are important, but so are the stellar results and he is so important to them.
“Chelsea are buying players like Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck for experience. You look at certain teams that are doing poorly: No leadership, no experience in a team can have an adverse effect.
“So, as much as there’s been this massive drive in recent years to go and buy the next young player that brings you value for money and all the rest of it, I think teams have got to be a little bit careful about offloading some of the older players.
“I’m not talking about Fernandes in this situation, I’m just talking in general. I think you’ve got to be a little bit careful because you can soon be unpicked at the seams.
“But going back to Fernandes, he brings you that experience in the team and he brings you absolute quality in the team. There’s no questioning that. He’s not regressing in any way.
“So, if I was Manchester United, I’d be moving heaven and earth to try to keep him.”
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