Fernandes given Al-Hilal deadline, Manchester United trigger Matheus Cunha release clause, Yamal signs contract extension with Barcelona – Paper Round

Wednesday’s Paper Round leads on Manchester United, with captain Bruno Fernandes told to make a decision within 72 hours by Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal, Lamine Yamal signs contract extension with Barcelona until 2031and a move for Matheus Cunha moving closer after United agreed to pay his £62.5m release clause at Wolves. 

Elsewhere, Chelsea are keeping tabs on a Strasbourg striker, and Manchester City want to sign Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki.

Bruno Fernandes has been told by Al-Hilal to decide within 72 hours if he wants to quit Manchester United and join the Saudi Pro League side, the Daily Mail reports. 

 

The ‘take it or leave it’ offer would see the Saudi club effectively quadruple Fernandes’ current salary of £280,000-a-week, reportedly taking the package to £200m over three years with bonuses. 

 

The Mail adds: “The 30-year-old’s representatives have been in talks with Al-Hilal for some time and have now made him a final and binding offer.

“The United captain, who is currently leading his team on a post-season tour of Malaysia and Hong Kong, has until Thursday to respond.

 

“If he agrees, the club are ready to issue the paperwork on a contract worth around £65m-a-season and make a formal approach to United with a bid in the region of £100m.

 

“United sources have re-iterated that they do not want to sell their best player, but the club are under even greater financial pressure after defeat to Tottenham in Wednesday’s Europa League final cost them £100m in Champions League revenue.”

Manchester United to pay Cunha release clause

Manchester United’s move for Matheus Cunha has moved a step closer after the club agreed to pay the forward’s £62.5m release clause at Wolves, multiple outlets report. 

 

Wolves had turned down United’s offer to stagger the payment across five years, instead agreeing on three payments over two years, meaning the Brazilian is set to become Ruben Amorim’s first signing of the summer. 

 

The Guardian writes: “The signing is expected to be a formality from here and he could be the first of several summer arrivals for United. He has already agreed personal terms and will undergo a medical in the coming days. Amorim is also keen on signing the Ipswich forward Liam Delap, who has a release clause of £30m after relegation from the Premier League.

 

“Cunha has impressed across his two and a half years at Wolves, for whom he scored 15 goals this season to pull them clear of relegation trouble. He joined from RB Leipzig in January 2023, initially on loan, before completing a £43m permanent move.

 

“He signed a new contract on deadline day in February on the basis that his new deal would contain a release clause amid interest from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest.”

Chelsea eye Strasbourg striker

Chelsea are monitoring Emanuel Emegha’s progress at Strasbourg with a view to signing the striker from their partner club in time for the 2026-27 season, the Guardian reports. 

 

Strasbourg have been part of BlueCo’s multi-club model since 2023, and qualified for the Conference League after finishing seventh this season. Liam Rosenior is in charge of Strasbourg, and 22-year-old Emegha is among the players to have impressed, scoring 14 goals in 27 league games. 

 

The Guardian adds: “The idea is for Emegha to maintain his progress under Rosenior next season and leave a pathway open for him to move to the next level by joining Chelsea before the 2026-27 campaign. 

 

"Such an agreement would demonstrate to other young players that there is value in playing for Strasbourg. 

 

"Andrey Santos, the highly promising Brazilian midfielder, is expected to be part of Chelsea’s squad after a successful year on loan at Strasbourg.”

Man City want Cherki

Manchester City want to sign Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki, the Telegraph reports, with the 21-year-old having already confirmed he will leave the Ligue 1 club this summer. 

 

Cherki is believed to have a £20-25m release clause, and City have joined the race after pulling out of contention to sign Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. 

 

The Telegraph writes: “Cherki has enjoyed an excellent campaign with 12 goals and 20 assists and earlier this month he thanked team-mates and staff at Lyon and said he is likely to leave the Ligue 1 club.

 

“Clubs who have been looking at the prodigious talent must also weigh up whether Cherki’s temperament is suited to them. His work-rate compared to other pressing midfielders has been highlighted as a weakness.

 

“However, clubs have also seen huge potential that could possibly be harnessed by the right coach. For instance, he looked to be tiring in the Europa League clash against Manchester United during extra-time yet still scored a stunning 104th-minute goal.”

Lamine Yamal signs contract extension with Barcelona until 2031

Lamine Yamal has signed a contract extension with FC Barcelona, the club announced Tuesday, in a deal which keeps the 17-year-old superstar with the Blaugrana until the end of the 2030-31 season.

News of the contract extension comes after Yamal exclusively told CNN Sports’ Amanda Davies at the Globe Soccer Awards in December 2024 that “Barça is the club of my life,” adding: “I want to play in the Spanish league. I want to play for Barça, and yes, I will renew my contract. I will.”

Details of the deal – which was signed at the club’s offices in front of president Joan Laporta and sporting director Deco – were not provided by Barça, but multiple reports from Spanish media say that the precocious teenager is set to become one of the highest earners in the squad with a potential annual salary of roughly 19 million euros (about $21.5 million) after taxes.

Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, seemed to hint at those figures in his Instagram Stories, linking to a post celebrating his son’s contract extension with the number “19.3” written above it.