^ ^ Bruno Fernandes responds to £133m transfer offer to leave Manchester United

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes (Picture: Getty)

Bruno Fernandes has rejected an offer worth £133m to leave Manchester United, according to reports.

Fernandes, who has been United’s most important player for the best part of a decade, came close to leaving Old Trafford last summer.

Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal offered Fernandes a lucrative contract and approached Manchester United with a proposal worth almost £100m.

United did not instantly reject the proposal despite Fernandes’ influence on the team but the 31-year-old turned down the offer in favour of staying put.

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Fernandes proceeded to enjoy one of his best-ever seasons, breaking the Premier League assist record and being named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year.

There has once again been speculation over Fernandes’ future this summer as the Portuguese playmaker has entered the final year of his contract, although Manchester United have the option to extend for a further 12 months.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Fernandes has received another huge offer from Saudi Arabia worth an eye-watering £640,000-a-week and £133m over a period of four years.

Fernandes almost left Old Trafford last summer (Picture: Getty)

But the report says Fernandes once again rejected the approach from Saudi Pro League officials, which arrived during the World Cup, as his focus is on Manchester United.

Galatasaray, Juventus and AC Milan all expressed interest in signing Fernandes earlier in the summer but United indicated they were ‘wasting their time’.

BBC Sport said Manchester United informed interested parties that Fernandes would not be sold ‘at any price’.

Michael Carrick is desperate to keep hold of Fernandes (Picture: Getty)

The Red Devils have largely struggled during Fernandes’ spell at the club but United climbed to third in the Premier League last season once Michael Carrick took over.

There was some hope United could even challenge Arsenal for the Premier League title in Carrick’s first full season in charge but a shock opening-day defeat to Hull City has tempered expectations.

Reflecting on his time at Old Trafford so far and ambitions for the future, Fernandes told ESPN back in June: ‘Obviously, I wanted to have won more, it wasn’t quite what I had expected for myself and for the club.

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‘But I had very good times. We managed to reach some finals, some of them we won, others we didn’t.

‘But my goal has always been to win the biggest competitions and the Premier League is part of it. And I still have that dream in me and I hope to achieve it.’

Asked about Carrick’s impact since replacing his compatriot Ruben Amorim, Fernandes added: ‘I think he brought a very positive energy to the team, he tried to be very positive, because obviously we were in a moment of coaching transition, which is always a difficult time for the team.

‘He tried to be positive, obviously he brought new ideas and a different way of playing, which was also important for some players to find an escape to be protagonists again.

‘And it’s been good, obviously, because the results demonstrate that too. We hope that we will continue to do so.’

After losing to Hull on the opening week, Manchester United will be desperate to return to winning ways on Sunday against fellow newly-promoted Ipswich Town.

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^ ^ The key reason Emiliano Martinez rejected ‘other offers’ to join Chelsea

Chelsea summer signing Emiliano Martinez (Picture: Getty)

Emiliano Martinez rejected ‘other offers’ in favour of a move to Chelsea, according to reports.

The World Cup winner is set to complete a move to Stamford Bridge after Chelsea agreed a £7.5m deal with Aston Villa.

Chelsea looked set to put their faith in Robert Sanchez again this season but club chiefs performed a U-turn after his shaky performance in the Premier League opener against Fulham.

Martinez, who joined Aston Villa six years ago in a £20m deal from Arsenal, has been pushing for a move away from the Midlands club all summer.

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Villa sanctioned the Argentine’s exit after signing Japan goalkeeper Zion Suzuki from Parma at the start of the month.

Martinez was close to joining Juventus earlier in the window and rejected offers from other clubs in favour of a move to west London.

According to The Guardian, 33-year-old Martinez quickly made Chelsea his first-choice option as he was keen to play under Liverpool and Real Madrid legend Xabi Alonso.

Xabi Alonso opted to change goalkeepers (Picture: Shutterstock)

Chelsea finished just 10th in the Premier League last season but have been tipped to at least climb back into the Champions League places under Alonso.

Martinez, who has signed a two-year deal with Chelsea, will come straight into the team after finalising his move with Sanchez demoted not one but two places.

Belgian shot-stopper Mike Penders is expected to be Martinez’s back-up at Chelsea, with Sanchez set to be frozen out unless he leaves before the summer transfer window closes.

Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez has been replaced (Picture: Getty)

Despite Sanchez’s struggles at Stamford Bridge, The Guardian say he has already attracted interest from clubs in England, Europe and Saudi Arabia.

Former Chelsea assistant manager Jody Morris has backed the club’s pursuit of Martinez despite seeing signs of improvement from Sanchez last season.

‘I actually thought Robert Sanchez showed improvement last year and looked safer than in the previous seasons,’ he told Genting Casino.

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‘Having said that, looking at teams that consistently challenge for or win the title, as Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville said after the game, they typically possess a world-class presence in goal.

‘Chelsea were fortunate to have Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois between the sticks. Other title-winning teams have relied on world-class keepers like Ederson or Alisson.

‘Sanchez has improved, but if Chelsea want to reach the next level and truly challenge, the goalkeeper position is somewhere they should look to strengthen.

‘Emi Martinez appears keen to move on from Aston Villa after the departure of several teammates this summer. He would certainly be an improvement at Chelsea. 

‘He is an international winner and a real character, he might wind you up if he is on the opposing team, but you would love to have him on yours.’

After an opening win over Fulham, Chelsea will look to make it two from two when they play host to Brighton on Sunday afternoon.

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^ ^ Arsenal warned £65m target is ‘waiting’ for Manchester United transfer

Premier League rivals Arsenal and Manchester United (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have been warned that one of their top transfer targets is ‘waiting’ for a call from Premier League rivals Manchester United.

The Gunners remain interested in strengthening Mikel Arteta’s squad before the summer transfer window closes on Thursday evening.

Arteta has so far welcomed four new players to the Emirates Stadium, signing Bruno Guimaraes, Christos Tzolis, Ezri Konsa and Illan Meslier.

Arsenal continue to be linked with one more marquee signing before the transfer deadline, with Arteta keen to see a new attacker arrive in north London.

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The Premier League champions expressed interest in signing Brazil icon Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid and are huge admirers of Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.

Arsenal were also recently linked with a move for Victor Osimhen, who Louis Saha believes would be an ideal signing for Manchester United.

Osimhen has been one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe over the past five seasons, scoring 76 goals in 133 games for Napoli and then 64 in 77 for his current club Galatasaray.

Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen (Picture: Getty)

The 27-year-old Nigerian, who has five goals in three games so far this season, is believed to be keen on a move to Arsenal, but Saha claims he is ‘waiting’ for Manchester United.

Like Arteta, Michael Carrick is also believed to be keen to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes to provide cover and competition for Benjamin Sesko.

‘I know for a fact that Victor Osimhen is a Manchester United fan,’ Saha told MrGamble. ‘He loves Man United. I have seen it in his eyes, the impact the club has on him, and he sees the impact he could have on this team.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)

‘He is a very confident player. He is like Erling Haaland. He doesn’t need to see the ball very often to score goals. If he is not getting the chances he needs, he will demand them.

‘This is the type of player United need to sign. You look at his experience. He has scored 20 goals every season. He has the character, the belief, he works hard and he is unpredictable.

‘He can make assists and he would be a good fit for the Premier League, physically. There is absolutely no doubt about that.

Man Utd striker Benjamin Sesko (Picture: Getty)

‘Osimhen can be another player like Bruno Fernandes. He would quickly come to know the club inside and out. All United have to do is make the connection but that’s why it hasn’t happened yet. Osimhen is still waiting.

‘United missed out on signing Harry Kane and that was one of their biggest mistakes in the transfer market but they can correct that mistake by signing Osimhen.

‘I think Osimhen is a better fit for United now than Kane because of Benjamin Sesko. Osimhen can teach Sesko about movement and being a striker but they could also play together and combine better than Kane and Sesko could.

‘I can see it in how they each like to play. Not in every game but in some games it would make sense, and the rest of the time they could give each other some healthy competition.

‘We had four strikers when I played for Manchester United. I didn’t have the same style of play as Ruud van Nistelrooy or Alan Smith or Carlos Tevez but we managed to find our own separate ways because the manager was good enough to let us compete in a healthy way.

‘That’s what United need and Osimhen would give them that and score at least 15 or 20 goals a season and provide goals for others to shine too. That’s the kind of profile of player United need to sign.’

Osimhen has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Premier League throughout his career and came close to joining Chelsea two years ago.

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