Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal now believe they are close to reaching an agreement with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes following a week of positive meetings, according to journalist and transfer insider Ben Jacobs.
The billionaire-owned club have yet to approach the Red Devils with an official bid, but talks with the agent of the Portuguese midfielder are ongoing, and they want an answer by Friday.
Man United would love to hold on to Fernandes, but Al-Hilal believe they will sanction a sale if the 30-year-old insists he wants out.
The Red Devils star wants to consult with his family before reaching a conclusion as he wants to put them first, and the whole saga could be over in the coming days or weeks.
Al-Hilal are ready to offer around £100 million to sign Fernandes, and it is a deal Man United could be tempted to consider given their current financial situation.
Failure to qualify for Europe next season after losing the final of the Europa League to Tottenham Hotspur has dealt a huge blow on their summer transfer plans, and they need to sell if they want to recruit more quality signings.
The Old Trafford club hope to boost their transfer budget with the sales of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Antony this summer, while head coach Ruben Amorim has told Alejandro Garnacho to find a new club.
The Man United boss wants to keep Fernandes, but he just signed Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and could be open to letting his fellow countryman go if he indicates a desire to move on.
The ball is in his court despite the tempting offer on the table, but Al-Hilal will likely return for him next summer if he decides to remain with the Red Devils for next season, and failure to win major silverware next season and qualify for the Champions League in 2026-27 could leave him with no choice but to move on.
