Saha Urges United to Plan for Fernandes Exit with Palmer Swoop

Louis Saha has urged Manchester United to get their ducks in a row regarding Bruno Fernandes' future by making a move for Cole Palmer, should the Portuguese playmaker decide his time at Old Trafford has run its course.

At 31, Fernandes remains a key performer for the club, yet Saha believes the midfielder could be tempted away in search of major trophies. With only an FA Cup and League Cup to show for his United tenure, the former striker reckons Fernandes might weigh up his options elsewhere.

Speaking to CasinoHawks, Saha acknowledged Fernandes' quality but flagged concerns about the club's direction under INEOS ownership. "I think for the respect that we all have for Bruno Fernandes, I think he's a terrific player. He has to consider his future because, looking at the strategy of INEOS, the way they think is very uncertain," Saha explained.

"The reality is, you can love the club as much as you want, it doesn't matter. At some point, you have to make your own decision. It's not only about trophies, because we know 100%… that Bruno wants to win a major trophy with Manchester United. It would be his proudest moment because he really loves the club, and he's shown that with his dedication. He was disappointed because he has seen, he has heard some behaviour around his future that he didn't like."

The prospect of Fernandes departing isn't exactly breaking news. Last summer, the midfielder was reportedly left feeling wounded when United actively pushed for his exit following a substantial offer from Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal. That bid, which would have netted him around £700,000 per week, was firmly rejected by the player.

By October, Fernandes had reaffirmed his commitment to the Red Devils, though he made clear any discussions about his future would have to wait. "As I've always said, I feel good here. I want to achieve my dreams still," he told the BBC at the time.

"I can't talk for the club. I've seen a lot of people talking that I had an agreement to go already next season. If the club has done that agreement, it wasn't made with me. I haven't spoken with anyone. My agent also knows how I work. If he wants to talk to me, it will be after the World Cup. Until then, I won't speak to anyone."

Should Fernandes depart, Saha reckons Palmer represents the ideal candidate to fill that void—a "dream target" capable of transforming United's attacking options. The Chelsea forward has proven his adaptability across multiple attacking roles and has consistently remained the focal point of his side despite playing alongside numerous different forward types.

"It would be incredibly exciting to see Cole Palmer at Manchester United. He's not a Man City player anymore… He can play pretty much anywhere in attack," Saha said. "He has managed to play in the Chelsea side with maybe 10 different types of forwards and has still been the main man. So that shows how reliable he is."