Bruno Fernandes set for bumper new Manchester United deal that would make him the club’s highest-paid player

Manchester United are preparing to hand Bruno Fernandes a significant new contract that would elevate the Portugal international to the position of the club’s best-paid player. The midfielder’s latest display of his value came on Sunday when he scored a hat-trick in a convincing 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford, just days after being named the PFA Player of the Year.

Fernandes has long been regarded as the creative heart of the United side, and his performance against Ipswich once again underlined why the club is willing to break with recent wage discipline to keep him. He found the equaliser before the interval and then played a central role as United pulled clear after the break. The result and his personal contribution have strengthened the case for improved terms at a time when negotiations over a fresh agreement are understood to be progressing.

The 29-year-old signed updated contracts in both 2022 and 2024. On each occasion the expiry date was pushed back by only a single year, yet his salary rose substantially. According to reports, the next deal under discussion could take his weekly wage to around £350,000. He currently receives £300,000 a week. Marcus Rashford remains the highest earner on the books at £325,000 a week, although the forward has spent the past 18 months away from the club before returning to the squad. United have attempted in recent seasons to introduce a more measured approach to wage levels across the squad, yet those inside the club acknowledge that Fernandes’s consistent output justifies an exception.

Beyond the PFA honour, Fernandes collected the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award midway through last season. During that campaign he set a new record for the number of assists recorded by a player in a single Premier League season. In May he also received a fifth Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year trophy, an unprecedented total that reflects the sustained regard in which he is held by supporters and teammates alike.

There had been earlier speculation about a possible departure. Talks were held over a potential transfer to Saudi Arabia valued at around £80 million, but then-manager Ruben Amorim made clear that any exit would be blocked. That decision has since been viewed as astute. Fernandes remained at Old Trafford and continued to drive the team forward, proving particularly influential during the side’s improved run of form under Michael Carrick last season.

Former United defender Gary Neville was among those quick to praise the midfielder after the Ipswich match. Speaking on his podcast, Neville described Fernandes as the outstanding piece of recruitment the club has made since Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. “He is the best signing post Sir Alex Ferguson by an absolute mile,” Neville said. “He has got the guts, the courage, the belief to play for Manchester United, the numbers he has delivered with assists and goals. He’s an outstanding player, he really is.”

The numbers support that assessment. Since arriving from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, Fernandes has scored 110 goals in 329 appearances across all competitions. His ability to influence matches from central midfield, both as a goalscorer and as a creator, has made him one of the most productive players in the Premier League during that period. Managers have come and gone, tactical systems have shifted, yet Fernandes has remained a constant source of goals, assists and leadership on the pitch.

The prospective new contract would formalise his status as the financial as well as the footballing focal point of the squad. For a club that has sought to rebalance its wage bill, the decision to push one player above the existing ceiling reflects a pragmatic recognition of on-pitch reality. Fernandes has delivered at a level that few others in the current United squad can match, and the club appears prepared to reward that contribution accordingly.

Negotiations are still under way, and no final figures or length of contract have been confirmed. What is clear is that United see the midfielder as central to their plans and are ready to structure a deal that reflects both his past achievements and his ongoing importance. The timing of the talks, coming immediately after a high-profile individual award and a memorable individual performance, only strengthens the sense that the club is acting from a position of appreciation rather than necessity.

Fernandes has rarely been a quiet presence at Old Trafford. Whether organising teammates, demanding higher standards or producing decisive moments in big matches, he has projected an intensity that supporters have come to rely upon. That same intensity has translated into silverware at individual level and into consistent statistical output that places him among the most effective attacking midfielders of his generation in English football.

As discussions continue, the focus remains on securing the player’s long-term future at the club he joined more than five years ago. A deal that takes him to £350,000 a week would represent a notable increase on his current terms and would place him clear of every other United player on the wage list. For a footballer who has repeatedly shown his value in red, the club appears ready to match that contribution with the financial recognition that accompanies top-earner status.

The coming weeks will determine the precise shape of the agreement. In the meantime, Fernandes continues to perform at a level that makes the case for improved terms difficult to ignore. His hat-trick against Ipswich was simply the latest reminder of why Manchester United are prepared to make him the highest-paid player at the club.