Fernandes set to double Man Utd salary but remain way behind club's top earners

Bruno Fernandes is set to sign a new five-year contract with Manchester United.

The playmaker is expected to double his salary to around £240,000-a-week with the new deal, which will keep him at United until 2027. That will put Portugal star Fernandes among United's higher earners, although still some way behind David de Gea, who earns £375,000-a-week, and Cristiano Ronaldo, on £450,000-a-week.

Talks between United and representatives of Fernandes have been going on for the past year, but after a breakthrough within the past week, both parties are set to commit to a new agreement. Fernandes, 27, joined United from Sporting Lisbon for £47million in January 2020 on a five-and-a-half year deal worth £100,000-a-week and quickly established himself as one of the club's key players.

Last season he plundered 28 goals for United and while his form has tailed off this season, he remains the club's second-highest scorer behind compatriot Ronaldo, with nine goals. Fernandes' new contract will keep him at United until he is nearly 33 and he has previously suggested he would like to step into management after calling time on his playing career. "I'm trying to enjoy the football, you know. I think I want to be a coach. Honestly, I would like to be a coach," he told United's official website last year.

"I don't know which team I would like to manage. Of course, the biggest team if I can manage Manchester United, I will be happy. I can leave now just some words so if people see this, if I'm a manager in the future, the fans can make some pressure to bring me as a coach! But I think I would like to be a coach in the future. I'm not sure but for what I feel for football, for the feeling I have, I think I have to continue to be inside of football because my whole life is about this. So I think, in the future, it needs to be with football too."

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Fernandes is currently away on international duty and started Thursday night's World Cup qualifier against Turkey, which Portugal won 3-1. This set up a showdown with North Macedonia, who stunned reigning European champions Italy with a 1-0 victory in Palermo. On paper, this makes for a more favourable tie for Portugal but they will need to be wary of avoiding another upset.

Meanwhile, the Red Devils return to action after the international break with a home clash against Leicester. Nothing but three points will do as United aim to close the gap on the Premier League top four.