Bruno Fernandes started the season brilliantly with a hat-trick in Manchester United's second game of the season against Ipswich, in a much-needed win on the back of the loss to Hull City.

However, despite a goal against significantly lower-ranked Sabah in the Champions League, his overall season so far has left a lot to be desired.

United's club captain has been carrying a minor injury for much of the campaign but remains a guaranteed starter under Carrick, though yet another underwhelming midweek display in United's 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid has increased calls for change.

Fernandes is known to be a resilient character who tends to bounce back after spells of poor performances, but his long-term future at United is being called into question.

Bruno Fernandes’ active contract with the club is set to expire at the end of the current season, although United have the option to extend it by a further campaign.

After reports earlier this season stated that the club had initiated talks with the Portuguese midfielder surrounding a new deal, Roundtable understands that there has been no progress on fresh terms in recent weeks.

After clear ambition and keeping promises emerged as key factors in securing his renewal, the club captain is becoming concerned about United’s ambitions, with this being a significant factor surrounding the lack of progress of late.

That being said, the the parties involved remain in talks, with the club trying to convince Fernandes that remaining at Old Trafford is still in his best interests.

This news comes after Lisandro Martínez, another dressing room leader, openly slammed United Director of Football Jason Wilcox for the club’s lack of investment last summer, a view shared by many others in the dressing room.

Two summers ago, United were able to convince Bruno Fernandes to stay at the club despite a mega-money offer from the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, with Wilcox investing around £200 million on a new front line.

Last summer, the Saudi league came calling again, but with United having finished third in the Premier League and promising the players that they would build on last season’s success, the club captain continued to commit his time to Old Trafford.

However, a summer that saw three midfielders signed and no first-players sold, as well as a lack of further investment in the forward and defensive ranks, it became clear that United had failed to back their manager and their players.

Fernandes’ hesitancy to commit to a new deal with a club he clearly loves is a damning statement at the last of trust United’s biggest stars have in the long-term project, as well as a lack of faith in those at the top of the club.