Al-Hilal are willing to pay Manchester United £100million for captain Bruno Fernandes, talkSPORT understands.
However, they have set the Portuguese international a deadline of next week to decide if he wants the move.
The Saudi Pro League side are keen to make a statement signing before taking part in next month’s Club World Cup.
Fernandes has been offered a deal worth £65million-a-year.
The 30-year-old midfielder said after Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat to Tottenham that United may want to cash in on him after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
United ideally want to keep Fernandes, but are under pressure to sell to raise funds for a summer rebuild.
He initially signed from Sporting Lisbon in 2020 for £47m and in August last year signed a new deal until 2027.
Named club captain in 2023, Fernandes admitted his future wasn’t clear following the 1-0 defeat to Spurs in Bilbao.
“I have always been honest, if the club thinks it’s time to part ways because they want to do some cashing in or whatever, it’s what it is,” he began.
“Football sometimes is like this. I’ve always said I will be here until the club says to me that it’s time to go.
“I’m eager to do more, to be able to bring the club to the great days. The day that the club thinks that I’m too much or it’s time to part ways, football is like this, you never know it.
“But I’ve always said it and I keep my word in the same way.”
Following the Europa defeat, talkSPORT reported that Fernandes and the man he replaced as club captain have become disillusioned with the team’s owners.
However, Fernandes’ importance makes a departure far less tenable than one for Harry Maguire.
2023/24 Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal are looking to make a splash at the Club World Cup in the US, having endured a difficult season.
They’ve already surrendered their title to Al Ittihad, and have also lost record signing Neymar to Santos and more recently, star manager Jorge Jesus.
Should they manage to secure Fernandes for £100m, it would a new record fee for the SPL, and also record sale for United.
The club’s previous record departure was the £80m Real Madrid paid for Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009.
Such an income would facilitate drastic change in United’s squad, with the team close to sealing a deal for £62.5million Wolves forward Matheus Cunha.
The Red Devils have also held talks with Ipswich’s Liam Delap, and Lyon’s Rayan Cherki is a target.
However, Delap is keen to join a club playing in the Champions League and now they won’t be in that competition, the move could be in doubt.
Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna has confirmed that his striker is expected to leave the club this summer.
The former Man United coach said on Friday: “Liam’s looking at his options for next year, which I think he’s entitled to do, and we support him with that.
“So, yes, we’ve given him the permission to do that [talk to other clubs] this week.
