Bruno Fernandes offered mega-money Saudi deal as Al Hilal’s enormous budget is revealed, Ineos cuts hit Sir Alex Ferguson’s trusted sidekick and the three young stars who will leave Old Trafford this summer

Bruno Fernandes has been offered a mega-money deal to leave Manchester United and join Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal this summer.

It follows talks between Fernandes’ camp and Al Hilal in recent weeks, and again on Monday, during which the Riyadh-based club made what has been described as a non-binding offer of a three-year contract. It is understood that Fernandes has not yet responded to the proposal.

Al Hilal are in the market for a marquee player after Mohamed Salah decided to stay at Liverpool, and will use the £500million earmarked for the Egypt star to make other big signings.

They could afford to make United a massive offer and pay Fernandes in the region of £65m a year. Sources at both United and Al Hilal have played down reports in the Middle East of a £60m buyout clause in the new deal Fernandes signed last year.

It tied the 30-year-old to Old Trafford until 2027 with the option of a 12-month extension, and United sources are confident their captain will stay to be a crucial part of the rebuild under Ruben Amorim this summer. They maintain that he is not for sale.

Al Hilal want to complete the deal before the Club World Cup this summer, although the situation is complicated by the fact they do not have a manager after Jorge Jesus left over the weekend. The SPL club also want to sign a striker and right winger with Victor Osimhen and Rodrygo among their other targets.

Bruno Fernandes has been in spectacular form for Manchester United this season

Al Hilal were dumped out of the Asian Champions League semi-finals by compatriots Al Ahli

Fernandes has 19 goals and 18 assists in all competitions for United this campaign

Kit man affected by cuts 

Sir Alex Ferguson is in the final few weeks of a £2million-a-year role as a United ambassador, and Confidential has learned that his trusted kit man Albert Morgan has been told there will be changes to his contract too.

Morgan will continue to work for the club but he will now be paid based on appearances rather than receive a fixed income following a meeting with club officials at Carrington on Thursday.

Sources say the move will bring Morgan’s contract into line with other club legends and ambassadors as United continue to cut costs under Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos. The club are currently in the process of axing a further 200 jobs.

Morgan, who turns 79 later this month, retired at the same time as Ferguson in 2013 after 20 years as United’s kit man. He has been a regular feature on matchdays, tours and European trips since then, and insiders say they expect that to continue under the new terms.

As United prepare to make the next round of redundancies, it has emerged that Under 18s manager Adam Lawrence could also leave as he considers a new challenge.

Albert Morgan (centre) with United legends Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Bobby Charlton in 2016

Morgan was a trusted member of Ferguson’s staff and retired at the same time in 2013

Morgan, pictured here with striker Robin van Persie, spent 20 years as United’s kit man

Bilbao fans flood in

Just under 4,000 Athletic Bilbao fans will be at Old Trafford for the Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday night after United’s opponents snapped up their full allocation, although many others are expected to make the trip and join their compatriots beforehand in Shambles Square.

Around 15,000 Athletic fans signed up for a ticket, with roughly a quarter of them lucky enough to get one.

It is significantly less than the 9,000-strong army that packed into Old Trafford for Athletic’s famous 3-2 win in 2012, which remains a record following for a La Liga club in Europe outside of a final

Athletic, captained by now-Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola (far right) brought 9,000 to Old Trafford in 2012 for a famous victory

Former Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa masterminded that victory over Sir Alex Ferguson’s side

Sources tell Confidential that was largely because Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had dropped out of the Champions League that season and more tickets were available because there was less interest among United fans.

As well as that 5-3 aggregate win over United, Athletic’s 5-3 home win over the Busby Babes in January 1957 is also seen as an iconic moment in the club’s history, not least because it was one of only a few occasions that Bilbao has seen snow. United won 3-0 at Old Trafford to go through.

United’s hotel heartbreak

United were delighted with their five-star Melia Hotel in Bilbao and would dearly like to return there for the final at the San Mames later this month if they go through on Thursday.

Close to the famous Guggenheim Museum, it was an ideal base for Ruben Amorim and his players during their stay in the Basque Country. United stayed on after their 3-0 win to train ahead of Sunday’s game at Brentford, even taking players on the trip who are not eligible for Europe because Amorim wanted them to be part of the session on Friday.

However, as revealed in last week’s Confidential, clubs don’t have a say in where they will stay for the final because UEFA designate the hotels and training bases – so United are unlikely to get their wish.

Under 21s duo key for Amorim

Eyebrows were raised when neither Jaydan Kamason nor Bendito Mantato were selected to be part of the first-team squad down at Brentford on Sunday, particularly with the youngsters both being genuine right wing-back options.

Diogo Dalot may not feature again this season, and with Noussair Mazraoui ruled out of the Gtech Community Stadium trip and Amad Diallo returning from injury, opportunity was knocking for the teenagers who were on the bench in Bilbao last week.

Eyebrows were raised when neither Jaydan Kamason (left) nor Bendito Mantato were selected to be part of the first-team squad down at Brentford on Sunday

Under 21s manager Travis Binnion talked up Kamason and Mantato’s prospects for United

Despite not featuring against Brentford, the duo were also not involved for the Under 21s in their Premier League 2 quarter-final against West Ham on Monday. Both were in attendance at Leigh Sports Village and watched from one of the hospitality boxes.

But Confidential understands the pair are seen as integral to Ruben Amorim’s training group ahead of the semi-final second leg against Athletic Club and so could not be risked for an academy game this week.

‘They have both got loads to come,’ Under 21s head coach Travis Binnion told us. ‘They have tools which are Premier League tools and they are only going to get better. They are learning on the job but being around the manager, his staff and senior players is only going to quicken that up.’

Both Kamason and Mantato, who is set to sign his professional deal at the club in the coming days, are pushing to make their first-team debuts before the end of the current season.

Kobbie and Tyler put kids on cloud nine

Monday was a recovery day for players and so outside of the 12-2pm session, the day was to be their own.

While youngsters Harry Amass and Chido Obi headed to Leigh Sports Village to support their friends in the Under 21s team, Kobbie Mainoo and Tyler Fredricson decided to go and lend their support to a different age group.

Kobbie Mainoo was at the Under 9s signing day just hours after playing for the first team at Brentford on Sunday

Tyler Fredricson joined Mainoo at the event, having also started at Brentford

The two Manchester United stars organised off their own backs to attend the Under 9s’ signing day, a landmark moment for many in that age group.

This was not a media duty put upon the players, but a voluntary choice by Mainoo and Fredricson to support academy staff and to help inspire the younger generations coming through at the football club.

Medal dilemma

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves, but United will have an interesting decision to make if they overcome Athletic Club and reach the Europa League final.

UEFA hand out 50 medals each to the finalists – gold to the winners and silver to the losers – and let the clubs decide how to distribute them.

With more than enough to go around the players who have appeared in Europe this season, as well as Ruben Amorim and his coaching staff, would United feel it’s the right thing to give one to Erik ten Hag and Ruud van Nistelrooy?

Ruud van Nistelrooy was caretaker boss for United’s group-stage victory over PAOK 

Of the 13 games in which United have remained unbeaten in Europe this season, Ten Hag was in charge for the opening three group fixtures against FC Twente, FC Porto and Fenerbahce before Van Nistelrooy took over as caretaker for the win over PAOK.

However, considering how United conceded four goals at home to Lyon at Old Trafford in the semi-final, it’s perhaps a little early to start thinking about how they will hand out any medals.

Rules are final, Arsene

Arsene Wenger has left it a little bit late to say the Europa League winners shouldn’t qualify automatically for next season’s Champions League, with the final in Bilbao just two weeks away.

You would hope that the legendary Arsenal manager’s comments over the weekend have nothing to do with the fact United and Tottenham are on course to meet at the San Mames on May 21.

You would hope that the legendary Arsenal manager’s comments over the weekend have nothing to do with the fact United and Tottenham are on course to meet in the final

Wenger, now FIFA’s chief of global football development, said it was ‘not right’ when the Premier League already has five entrants, and the winners should only be guaranteed a return to the Europa League next season instead.

UEFA changed the rule in 2014, and you have to wonder if Wenger would have taken the same view had Arsenal won the Europa League in his final season, when they were knocked out of the semi-finals by Atletico Madrid in 2018.

The debate does feel more valid than ever this year with United and Spurs in 15th and 16th place in the Premier League, but Ruben Amorim has already put it to bed in Bilbao last week by pointing out the rules were in place at the start of the season.

‘I think it’s the rules, it’s hard to talk about that,’ said Amorim. ‘Maybe you can say it’s not fair because the best teams, the champions, should be in Champions League. But you have this rule to give value to the competition.

‘I don’t know if it’s fair or not, but if there is that possibility we have to try and reach it.’

Questions im-press Amorim

Ruben Amorim has shown a remarkably good grasp of the English language since he was appointed in November, and United’s head coach appreciated the effort made by one of the travelling press corps in Bilbao when he put a question to Manuel Ugarte in Spanish.

Sat alongside the Uruguayan midfielder for the pre-match press conference at the San Mames last week, Amorim smiled when the reporter used his fluent Spanish to ask Ugarte about the game on what was the player’s first appearance in front of the media since signing from Paris Saint-Germain.

As Amorim got up to leave, he made a point of complimenting the reporter on his linguistic skills – which were nonetheless useless when it came to understanding the traditional Basque language of Euskara!

Three are free to go

Confidential understands that Sam Murray, Jack Kingdon and James Nolan are all set to leave United at the end of the season.

Numerous EFL scouts were in attendance to watch Murray against West Ham on Monday as he put in a brilliant performance that saw him score in the 4-1 win.

Sam Murray, 20, joined United from Huddersfield Town at Under 15s level and has been a model of consistency across the Under 18s and Under 21s during his time at the club

Jack Kingdon (centre) and James Nolan (far left) are also set to leave the club this summer

Murray, 20, joined United from Huddersfield Town at Under 15s level and has been a model of consistency across the Under 18s and Under 21s during his time at the club.

He played in all of the games in the run to the 2022 FA Youth Cup final and is generating interest from League One and Two clubs as his contract edges towards expiry.

Centre back Kingdon has been out on loan at Rochdale, while Nolan, also 19, has been playing with Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Scotland.

Sekou’s a rising star

One of the most intriguing prospects at United is Sekou Kone, the Mali youth international who joined from Guidars FC last summer for a fee in the region of £1m.

He is continuing to learn English – while some academy staff have been learning French to help him settle – and his development is one to watch heading towards next season.

Many behind the scenes see Kone as having real first-team potential as one of the deeper-lying midfielders in Ruben Amorim’s system. While he has yet to break into the first team – a surprise to some at Carrington, but less so to others who are seeing the benefit of ironing out his game away from the limelight in the Under 21s – Amorim and his staff did take him to Bilbao to get a closer look at him around the senior players.

In the Under 21s they play a more conventional 4-3-3 system, and it was interesting on Monday to see Kone in one of the more advanced No 8 roles, a departure from the deeper No 6 role he has played most often.

‘I think for Ruben and the first team it will be in one of the two deeper positions, but as you know we don’t play that shape with the Under 21s,’ Binnion told Confidential. ‘I’m not too concerned where he plays but I am concerned with how he performs and the decisions he makes. That will define how much success he has at first-team level and how quickly he gets there – and whether he stays there.’

Sekou Kone is a Mali Under 17 international and plays mainly in defensive midfield

Many behind the scenes see Kone as having real first-team potential as one of the deeper-lying midfielders in Ruben Amorim’s system

Kone (centre) was part of the travelling squad for the Europa League semi-final first leg in Bilbao

Against West Ham there was a notable improvement in Kone’s running through the lines, as well as his willingness to break into the box from deep.

‘I think it’s good for him to play in both positions and it’s pretty interchangeable,’ Binnion added. ‘We’ve got a structure but he’ll have to go and receive it off the goalkeeper at times, receive it beyond the midfield at times, make runs at times, wherever he plays.

‘Without the ball he is combative. He just needs help positionally, and that comes with games and understanding.

‘He’s really hard to play against. Once he gets running and he simplifies his game, he’s going to be really effective. The simpler he can make his game, the more proactive he is being and the simpler his transition is to senior football.’

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