No Premier League club spends more on wages than Manchester United - with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and David de Gea on massive pay packets.
And Bruno Fernandes is keen to join the highest earners at Old Trafford after contract talks broke down.
The Portugal international is one of the most important players at United, becoming pivotal to the club since his move from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020.
His instant impact took the Red Devils back into the Champions League spots and he has become a fan favourite due to his goals and assists.
While the 27-year-old has toiled at times this season, Fernandes still has seven goals and nine assists and remains a key player, earning a basic wage of £100,000-a-week, before bonuses.
And while that is still a hefty total, that is significantly lower than some of his club teammates and the playmaker has demanded more.
In fact, he is among the lowest earners at Old Trafford and contract talks had been planned to bring his wages up to adjust to his importance to the squad.
According to The Athletic, though, Fernandes has turned down a new deal at United and negotiations have been put on hold until May.
There is a tinge of worry over the situation but no one is panicking because his current terms do not expire until 2025, which also has an option to extend by another year.
That puts him in a group of many other players who are tied to the club long-term, including Harry Maguire, Scott McTominay, Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho - who has the longest contract at 2026.
However, Fernandes is far down on the list of highest earners - which is topped by Ronaldo on a weekly wage of up to £510,000-a-week.
The five-time Ballon d’Or winner’s contract also expires in 2023, though there is an option to extend by a season.
De Gea is the best-paid goalkeeper in the world on £375,000-a-week that expires in 2023, too, with the same option.
While summer signings Sancho and Varane are also on big bucks, landing £350,000-a-week and £340,000-a-week respectively.
Two players that are out of contract this summer sit ahead of Fernandes in Paul Pogba and Edinson Cavani, who earn £290,000-a-week and £250,000-a-week respectively.
Anthony Martial is keen to leave United this January but finding a club to pick up his £250,000-a-week pay packet is proving difficult while running his contract down is not an option as it expires in the summer of 2024.
Maguire (2023), Luke Shaw (2023) and Marcus Rashford all also earn nearly double Fernandes’ basic wage at around £200,000-a-week.
Other players earning over the Portuguese star include Fred and Nemanja Matic, both on £120,000-a-week until 2023, and Juan Mata on £160,000-a-week that expires at the end of the season.
Player - contract expiry - weekly wage
Cristiano Ronaldo - 2023 - £510,000
David de Gea - 2023 - £375,000
Jadon Sancho - 2026 - £350,000
Raphael Varane - 2025 - £340,000
Paul Pogba - 2022 - £290,000
Edinson Cavani - 2022 - £250,000
Anthony Martial - 2024 - £250,000
Marcus Rashford - 2023 - £200,000
Harry Maguire - 2025 - £190,000
Juan Mata - 2022 - £160,000
Luke Shaw - 2023 - £190,000
Fred - 2023 - £120,000
Victor Lindelof - 2024 - £120,000
Nemanja Matic - 2023 - £120,000
Donny van de Beek - 2025 - £120,000
Dean Henderson - 2025 - £100,000
Bruno Fernandes - 2025 - £100,000
Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 2024 - £90,000
Mason Greenwood - 2025 - £75,000
Jesse Lingard - 2022 - £75,000
