Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes could reportedly push for a move away from the club in January after a breakdown in relationship.

The Portugal international was dropped from the team by Michael Carrick for the 3-0 defeat to Bournemouth, with the playmaker an unused substitute despite the poor performance on the day, and with the team chasing a result to save the manager's job.

That followed public criticism from the midfielder after the 4-1 defeat to Como, where Fernandes called out the coaching staff for their tactics in a post-match interview.

Carrick had been expected to be sacked as manager after a run of eight games without a win and just two wins in 12 games in all competitions this season, but he has been given the chance to turn things around, putting the future of Fernandes also in question.

According to a report by Calciomercato, the 32-year-old's relationship with the club has completely broken down, and a move away in January has not been ruled out.

Fernandes' current contract at Old Trafford is due to expire at the end of the season, and talks over a new deal have stalled in recent months. However, United hold the option to extend his deal by a further 12 months.

That would mean that United can demand a fee for their star player, and the report notes that Fernandes has a €65m (£54m) release clause in his contract for European clubs.

As a result, AC Milan are understood to be paying close attention to the situation, with former United boss Ruben Amorim eyeing a potential reunion with his compatriot. However, the player's huge salary would be an issue for Milan, and they would need to make him their highest-paid player to get a deal over the line.

Fernandes Exit Would Be New Era at Man Utd

There is no disputing how good Fernandes has been for Man Utd since joining from Sporting CP, and him leaving the club mid-season would be a huge blow.

But it's also fair to state that he hasn't looked like himself this season, and if the relationship between himself and the club has deteriorated, then a move away probably suits everyone. He's not at his best level anymore, and with his contract situation, getting a decent-sized fee for him could be good.

Replacing him will be a whole new problem to deal with, and whether INEOS can be trusted to do so or not is another matter. But with Carrick seemingly on his way out, this could be his chance for a real reset and new era at Old Trafford, and to build around someone who will be at the club long-term, rather than tailoring the team to someone who doesn't want to be there.