INEOS’ Mission 21 sets out Manchester United’s aim to win their 21st league title by 2028, a 15-year gap since they last won the Premier League under Sir Alex Ferguson.
It is a great shame that such a lackluster run coincided with the arrival of Bruno Fernandes, one of the club’s modern-day greats, and it is likely that the Portuguese’s career at Old Trafford will come and go without him winning any real top honors.
The 31-year-old, whose contract expires in 2027, could well miss the boat if INEOS’ plans go well. The midfielder has openly spoken of his frustration at not winning a major silver medal despite winning the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in recent seasons.
The United captain, who has now become something of a club politician, has not been afraid to air his grievances these days, suggesting Old Trafford bosses are keen to move him on in the summer.
Fears are creeping in that 2026 could be the year the former Sporting CP man is finally handed off to pastures new, and it already looks like the new year could bring yet another major shake-up to Manchester.
Manchester United players that INEOS could sell in 2026
Fernandes has already indicated that he will not discuss his future until after next summer’s World Cup, but with one year left on his contract with the playmaker by then, it would be no surprise if there was a handshake and an emotional farewell before next season.
Casemiro’s own contract expires in June, so there is a world of possibility that the other three senior midfield players, who earn £300,000 a week, could also move, while Manuel Ugarte has slipped down the pecking order and is rumored to be on the move next month.
Even that uncertainty is not helping Koby Mainu’s situation, with the Englishman also set to leave on loan in January if the two sides are unable to agree new terms for his contract, which expires in 2027.
Away from the midfield unit, Joshua Zirkzee, who has only scored four goals in the Premier League so far, has been linked with his own departure in the new year, while fellow striker Rasmus Heilund is also likely to make his loan move to Napoli permanent.
Speaking of loans, Marcus Rashford remains likely to remain at Barcelona, given the Catalan side have a £26m buyout option, while INEOS are thought to be prepared to allow Aston Villa loanee Jadon Sancho to leave for free at the end of the season.
With Andre Onana’s own temporary move to Trabzonspor without a buy-out option, United are certain to have to find a permanent home for the Cameroonian, and it seems highly unlikely that the former Inter Milan man will feature again for his parent club.
The 29-year-old keeper joins amid what is proving to be a disastrous 2023 season, but at least one summer signing is starting to take off.
Manchester United’s failure could be Bruno’s successor
As mentioned above, the previous regime spent big on Onana, Hojland and Mason Mount at a time when United needed a start under Erik ten Hag following their 2022/23 runners-up finish and League Cup win.
Two of these players are no longer with United, albeit temporarily, but Mount could very well have joined them had things gone differently, with reports over the summer suggesting INEOS were open to making a bid for him.
The Englishman, signed from Chelsea in a deal that could reach £60m, was included in the list of ‘ready-to-sign’ players after the Champions League winner had a miserable injury-hit first two seasons at the club.
According to reports, CEO Omar Berada wants to introduce a two-season policy for new players, giving them just two years to impress or risk a transfer.
This plan would perhaps hint at why Mount’s future is in doubt after making just 46 appearances in the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons, but manager Ruben Amorim is no doubt grateful that such a move did not occur, with the midfielder now looking like a key cog in the Portuguese’s set-up.
Clearly, Mount’s season at Old Trafford has already been his best yet, with wins over Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Wolves, but United have only lost one game in which they have started in 2025/26, an opening-round loss to Arsenal.
The 26-year-old has now started three of the last four games, although the need to carefully manage his playing time has meant he lacks any real consistent game time, but the 26-year-old has now started three of the last four games, with a particularly impressive performance away to Molineux.
Mount stats vs Wolves | |
|---|---|
status | record |
minutes | 85 |
touch | 46 |
the goal | 1 |
Pass accuracy | 90% |
dribble | 0/2 |
foul win | 3 |
long ball | 2/2 |
Pass inside enemy territory | 20/21 |
Statistics by Sofascore | |
Mount, who has taken Fernandes’ old role as part of a front three, is an infectious pressing machine, while his recent spate of goals highlights that he boasts a similar end product in front of goal at his best.
Indeed, going back to the 2021/22 season at Stamford Bridge, the Cobham graduate reached double figures for both goals and assists in league games, and started both the 2021 Champions League final and the European Championship’s marquee match later that summer.
Of course, the quality of his creativity has not quite reached its previous level, as he has not recorded any assists this season, but according to FBref, he ranks in the top 11% of attacking midfielders in the division for progressive passes per 90.
A pass is considered progressive if the distance between the starting point and the next touch is at least 10 meters closer to the completed pass into the opponent’s goal or into the penalty area.
His ability to pick out passes and send the ball to both flanks could spark strong hopes for Mount to fill Fernandes’ void in a deeper role should the captain leave, and his incredible goals at Palace ensure he can also take up the Portuguese’s set-piece mantle in the future.
The player currently in Fernandes’ camp is believed to be a sure-fire starter if he is fit, but given United’s record when he has started, INEOS must be grateful they did not decide to cash in during the summer.
The Manchester United star was treated like a minnow, but now he’s as hard to beat as Fernandes.
One of Manchester United’s stars has shown there could be light at the end of the tunnel for Koby Mainu.
