Harry Maguire is set to be stripped of the Manchester United captaincy whether he leaves Old Trafford or not this summer - and Bruno Fernandes is believed to be in line to take the armband.
Amid an erratic period of form in club colours, the England international lost his place in the United line-up last season, making just 16 Premier League appearances. Manager Erik ten Hag instead favoured Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane as his centre-back pairing, with Victor Lindelof also seemingly ahead of Maguire in the pecking order.
He still retained the armband when on the field, but his future under Ten Hag now looks increasingly in doubt. Indeed, he's reportedly part of an intended summer clear out, with David de Gea confirming on Friday that he was leaving the club after 11 years.
But according to The Sun, Maguire, who remains under contract at United until 2025, will lose the captaincy role even if he's not moved on. The 30-year-old has been linked with a move to West Ham, but his current wage demands are likely to form a stumbling block.
And Fernandes has been reportedly lined up to take over, having stepped in when Maguire was off the field last season. Since joining from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, the Portuguese star has assumed a senior role at United, notably vociferous towards teammates during games.
Unlike Maguire, Fernandes is cemented as a first-team regular and made 51 appearances in all competitions for the club in 2022/23. having formed a productive partnership with Casemiro, he's likely again to be integral to Ten Hag as he prepares for a return to the Champions League.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Do you have a message of support for Edwin Van der Sar? Comment below.
But the Dutch manager's work in the transfer market still has a long way to go. As well as the exit of De Gea and speculation over Maguire, the future of stars Jaden Sancho and Fred are also up in the air, with both tipped to head out of Manchester.
And Ten Hag is on the brink of securing two deals for two players coming through the door. Negotiations are ongoing with Inter Milan for the sale of keeper Andre Onana with the Cameroon international already indicating his desire to join the Premier League club.
Atalanta's Danish striker Rasmus Hojland is also being pursued, with United again the frontrunners to land the 20-year-old. that follows the club confirming the signing of Mason Mount this week, for a deal that could be worth up to £60 million.
