Mauricio Pochettino urged to sell £47m Man Utd star: ‘Needs to move on’ | Football

Mauricio Pochettino has been urged to wield the axe and ‘move on’ club captain Bruno Fernandes in one of his first acts as the new Manchester United manager.

Pochettino will take charge of the United States’ two games against Haiti before beginning life as United boss after signing a two-and-a-half-year deal to replace Michael Carrick.

And the Argentine will not have much time to work with the squad before his first Premier League match in charge of the Red Devils away to Liverpool on November 22.

Pochettino might be hopeful that the January transfer window might offer him the chance to reshape his squad after a disappointing summer transfer window left several holes in United’s squad.

And former Red Devils assistant manager Rene Meulensteen has suggested that Pochettino consider cashing in on Fernandes after his sluggish start to the season.

‘In terms of Bruno, Bruno has been a fantastic servant for Manchester United over many, many years,’ Meulensteen told talkSPORT.

‘He’s not hit the same levels this year round. I think he’s also been, to some extent, maybe even mentally damaged by all the negativity that has surrounded the club and himself.

‘To be fairly honest, I think he’s been a great servant, but I would not be too sad if he decided to leave the club.

‘I think there’s many more people, more players that I think need to move on, and we need to create a different kind of dynamism in the team.’

Fernandes won the PFA Players’ Player of the Year last year after a superb second half of the season under Carrick, but has not hit those same heights so far this campaign.

The 32-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season, with The Athletic reporting that the midfielder recently turned down a second contract offer from the club.

Fernandes can talk to foreign clubs about a potential free transfer from January, but United do have the option to trigger a 12-month extension until the summer of 2028.

The Red Devils are also said to be considering a move for talented Como midfielder Nico Paz if they do decide to part ways with Fernandes in the coming months.

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