Former Chelsea and Republic of Ireland striker Tony Cascarino believes Manchester United have been too hasty to offer Bruno Fernandes a fresh contract - and that Fernandes himself hasn't done enough to deserve one.
TalkSPORT host and Times columnist Cascarino called it "very strange" that the Red Devils are already considering boosting the wages they pay the 27-year-old playmaker. Fernandes's current contract is reportedly worth £100,000 a week, meaning plenty of United players earn more. Reports from Portugal suggest a new deal could be worth £220,000 weekly, an increase of more than double.
Speaking on talkSPORT (via Metro), Cascarino said: "It is a very strange set of circumstances where you are offering someone with three years left on their contract a new five-year deal.
"When he got a hat-trick [against] Leeds [on the opening day of the season], you thought, 'Wow, this is going to be some season for United.' He frustrates me. He is a talent, but he is always waving his arms about. It feels like he is complaining and moaning about his team all the time in the game."
There has certainly been a lot to moan about at United this season. The Red Devils have not been able to challenge on any front despite a trio of marquee summer signings in Cristiano Ronaldo, Jadon Sancho and Raphaël Varane. They sit sixth in the Premier League and have been knocked out of all cup competitions.
Cascarino qualified what he said about Fernandes's gesticulations, saying: "Don't get me wrong, Roy Keane did that, but he didn't wave his arms around.
"But I would get very annoyed when a player turns his back on play and is getting embroiled in other problems while the game is going on.
"I don't think they should be offering him a deal yet. If he gets to the stage where he is playing like the Bruno Fernandes who first arrived at the club over the next year I would be saying 'yeah' to a new contract. Not now."
With boss Ralf Rangnick making way for a new manager in the summer, it seems an especially strange time for the club to be negotiating bumper contracts for players who haven't hit their usual heights this season. Fernandes has been one of United's better performers, but he has only scored nine goals in all competitions. He scored 18 in the league alone last campaign.
Topics: Bruno Fernandes, Tony Cascarino, Football, Mancheste United, Ralf Rangnick
Dom Smith