Bruno Fernandes rejects second Manchester United contract offer

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes has rejected a second contract offer from the club, with his current deal due to expire at the end of the season.

The club can extend the 32-year-old midfielder’s contract by a year, until 2028. United have been negotiating with his representatives and are keen to agree a new deal instead. If no agreement is reached, the club are almost certain to trigger the extension before 1 January, according to BBC Sport, citing sources.

That would leave Fernandes able to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January, when his contract would be within six months of expiring. It is not clear when he rejected United’s latest offer, and a resolution does not appear imminent amid upheaval at the club.

Head coach Michael Carrick was sacked on Thursday after United’s worst start to a domestic campaign in 40 years. Mauricio Pochettino is expected to replace him and is due to take charge for the first time when United visit Liverpool on 22 November. The club will hope the appointment persuades Fernandes to stay.

Fernandes has scored six goals in 13 appearances for United this season. BBC football reporter Simon Stone said the midfielder wants to compete for the biggest prizes, while the club may be cautious about committing to a long contract given what Stone described as a drop in Fernandes’s form from last season.