INEOS are preparing for the unthinkable amid rumours of Real Madrid targeting Bruno Fernandes.
For Manchester United fans, the prospect of losing their heroics talisman is completely off the table – and Ruben Amorim is of the same viewpoint, too.
Reacting to the speculation regarding Fernandes’ potential switch to the Santiago Bernabeu, the head coach assured reporters this week: “It’s not going to happen. We want to win the Premier League again, and we want the best players with us. He’s still so young because he plays 55 games every season.
“Between assists and goals, he’s there for 30 at least. He’s the player we want here, he’s not going anywhere. We are in control of the situation. I feel that he’s really happy here. He understands what we want to do.”
It seems as though INEOS chiefs are still looking to prepare for the off-chance Fernandes is made a proposal too lucrative to turn down by the reigning European champions by scouring the market for his potential successors.
According to reports in Spain relayed by The Peoples Person, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s transfer chiefs have compiled a five-man shortlist of targets, consisting of Mikkel Damsgaard (Brentford), Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Oscar Gloukh (RB Salzburg), Xavi Simons (RB Leipzig) and Morgan Gibbs-White (Nottingham Forest).
Of the quintet, Simons has already been pretty heavily linked in recent weeks amid expectations he departs Germany this summer.
Bundesliga expert Christian Falk claimed the 21-year-old is eyeing up a move to England’s top flight, adding ‘everyone knows he’s going to make the step’, whether that be this year or next.
Additionally, Sky Sports reporter Florian Plettenberg assured United fans that the club had ‘never lost focus’ on Simons. They retain the interest they’ve held for the last few years – and could make a move irrespective of Fernandes’ future amid plans to reinforce Ruben Amorim’s attacking contingent.
