Ruben Amorim stresses importance of keeping Bruno Fernandes at Manchester United

Ruben Amorim stressed the importance of keeping key building block Bruno Fernandes as Manchester United look to make summer improvements within their financial restrictions.

The 30-year-old was a rare shining light in United’s worst league season since suffering relegation in 1973-74, which was compounded by last week’s Europa League final loss to fellow strugglers Tottenham.

United missed out on silverware and valuable Champions League qualification with the damaging defeat in Bilbao, leading Fernandes to admit the club could end up cashing in on him.

Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia are keen to sign the Portugal international, whose head coach underlined the skipper’s vital role at Old Trafford.

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“You can see by the performance, you can see by the leadership, the passion that he has for the game, so he’s really important,” Amorim said.

“You could see that in the last game [Sunday’s 2-0 win against Aston Villa]. I felt that the team was without pressure and they performed quite well, everybody wants the ball.

“But we had some difficult moments and in those difficult moments you can see that Bruno is the guy that takes that responsibility.

“He should be because he’s the captain, he’s experienced, so he’s really important for us, and really important for what we want to build with this team.”

Amorim, who was speaking at the start of United’s whistlestop post-season trip to Asia, will attempt to shape this side in his image this summer.

The PA news agency understands the club’s move for Wolves star Matheus Cunha is progressing, while there is interest in Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo and Ipswich striker Liam Delap among others.

But summer business has been made harder by the lack