Paul Merson questions Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes contract decision

Former Arsenal and England midfielder Paul Merson has questioned Manchester United's decision to give Bruno Fernandes a new long-term contract without a permanent manager being in place.

Fernandes, who joined United from Portuguese giants Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, has signed a new deal that will keep him at Old Trafford until the summer of 2026, plus the option of an additional year. He signed a five-and-a-half year contract upon his arrival at the club, but this new deal has seen him extend his stay and moved him higher up the club's wage bill.

Despite not being at his fluent best this season, Fernandes has been one of United's best signings in recent years, netting 49 goals and registering 39 assists in 117 games in all competitions. But even though he has not been at his very best this term, he has still registered 23 direct goal contributions, featuring nine goals and 14 assists.

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Therefore United's decision to tie Fernandes down to a new long-term deal makes sense to many onlookers. However, Merson has questioned the decision to put a new long-term contract on the table without United having yet sourced Ralf Rangnick's permanent replacement.

"Bruno Fernandes' contract situation is an interesting one and pretty much sums up where Manchester United are as a club at the moment," Merson told Sportskeeda. "I'm not saying he's a bad player by any stretch of the imagination, but how can they give someone a five-year contract when they haven't even got a permanent manager?

"What if a new manager comes in and doesn't quite fancy Fernandes, because there's every chance coaches won't like the way he throws his