Man Utd make transfer decision influenced by Bruno Fernandes | OneFootball

Manchester United are hoping to move past a culture of signing high profile players on big contracts and follow the path they have taken with Bruno Fernandes since his 2020 arrival.

Although United's wage bill accounts for 55% of total revenue – a healthy amount and the third lowest such proportion in the Premier League – the club has had enormous trouble with the idea of wasted salaries, i.e. paying those who are not contributing to that level on the pitch, or at all.

There is little margin for error when a big name signing – such as Casemiro or Jadon Sancho – arrives on huge wages and doesn't perform as expected.

Fernandes was the subject of substantial hype in 2019 because of the goal and assist numbers he was producing for Sporting CP. But as a lesser known player coming from a lower profile league, he still didn't command the same super lucrative contract as bigger names would.

The Portugal midfielder’s £100,000-per-week contract, while extremely good money, did not come close to rivalling United’s top earners at the time. But United were still able to double his Sporting wages. It was only two years down the line, having consistently been the squad’s best player, that Fernandes was rewarded with a contract worth £250,000-per-week. A more recent deal signed in August 2024 took his weekly pay to just over £300,000.

It has been a climb to reach that amount and it seems that United simply don’t want to get locked into contracts at the top end of the scale straight off the bat.

Fernandes was on £50,000 per week at Sporting CP / Quality Sport Images/GettyImages

The Athletic report the Bruno model is something the club want to replicate for others. Amad's recent contract more than trebled his previous salary to £100,000-per-week after establishing himself as a key first-team player.

Similarly, Patrick Chinazaekpere Dorgu is reported to have signed a basic £40,000-per-week contract upon arriving from Lecce in January. If the young Dane, who has made a bright start to his United career, performs he will be rewarded.

The strategy has led to issues renewing Kobbie Mainoo's contract, however. The England midfielder was reported in January to be seeking a deal worth close to £200,000 per week, having rapidly become an important player. But United's hesitance has pushed Mainoo to believe he could land a better deal elsewhere. Chelsea are among his rumoured suitors if a sale happens.

Alejandro Garnacho isn't in quite the same boat yet, but his current contract was also signed before he became a regular first-teamer and debate about how much of a pay rise his next deal should include will likely to be a significant theme of any talks.