Man Utd transfer chief John Murtough working on task board consider biggest ‘priority’

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After signing Cristiano Ronaldo, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho over the summer, many thought that Manchester United would be content with their business for a short while. However, it has been revealed that the Red Devils have a whole host of deals they want to get over the line urgently.

The trio of high calibre incomings has given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side a sense of belief and there is a feeling that the club may just have what it takes to throw down a strong title charge.

In previous years the Old Trafford outfit have struggled for depth, but this season there looks to be sufficient cover in nearly all areas of the pitch and although injuries would hurt them, it shouldn’t dent their title hopes too much.

However, one player who is irreplaceable in the United side is attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

The Portuguese playmaker joined the club in 2020 on a five-and-a-half-year deal, but they have made it their priority to get him on a new and improved contract to deter any potential interest from other top clubs.

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According to journalist Fabrizio Romano, the transfer chief John Murtough and United board have had Fernandes’ contract extension as a priority since July but are now in negotiations with the former Sporting captain about salary and the length of the new deal.

Since arriving in Manchester, the 27-year-old has scored 22 goals in 44 league appearances and registered 13 assists and asserted himself as one of the best players in the league.

The Portugal international has gained plenty of praise for how well he has adapted to the Premier League, with his unbelievable range of passes earning him comparisons with Manchester City’s Kevin de Bruyne.

Fernandes has won the Premier League Player of the Month award four times since he arrived in England and was also included in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year, which went down very well with the United faithful.

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Despite already being a fan’s favourite at the Theatre of Dreams, recent reports have meant that Fernandes has moved even higher up in the estimations of United supporters.

According to The Sun, the no.18 has been in contact with Leeds winger Raphinha to try and persuade him to leave Elland Road and become his teammate, just as they were at Sporting CP.

Raphinha was electric for the Peacocks last season and has started the new campaign in the same form, scoring three times in seven appearances and raising questions about when he will make the switch to a club capable of competing for silverware.

With Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Sancho, Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard all battling it out for a spot on the wings, it is hard to see why Solskjaer is keen to bring the 24-year-old into the frame, or maybe Fernandes sees the Brazilian right-winger as the man to cover his role in attacking midfield if he does need a rest.

Romano then revealed that the club are also keen to get defender Luke Shaw on a new contract and resolve the Paul Pogba situation.

Pogba’s contract at United expires in the summer of next year and he is yet to agree to sign a new contract, meaning that the club are keen to know whether he wants to leave or not so they can sell him in January for a fee to cut their losses.

Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid were two of the clubs reportedly interested in securing the signature of the 28-year-old but no deal was ever completed, though it looked likely they would return.

But now, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are prepared to offer Pogba whatever he wants to bring the midfielder back to the Serie A, who he initially left for on a free transfer in 2012.

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