Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Man Utd fans offered Bruno Fernandes transfer update after ‘agreement’ rumours
MANCHESTER UNITED are currently no closer to signing Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes this summer.
Bruno Fernandes: Any club can see he is a top player says expert
That’s according to Daily Telegraph journalist James Ducker.
The Red Devils have made two signings this summer in Daniel James for an initial £18million from Swansea City and £50m right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace.
But now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has his sights set on bolstering the Manchester United midfield, having lost Ander Herrera on a free transfer while Marouane Fellaini left the club in February to move to China.
Newcastle’s £25m-rated youngster Sean Longstaff is thought to be high on Solskjaer’s list of targets but Sporting’s Fernandes has also been regularly linked.
The 24-year-old enjoyed a phenomenal 2018-19 campaign as Sporting won both Portuguese cup competitions and came third in the Primeira Liga.
The club captain scored 32 goals and laid on 18 assists across 53 matches from central midfield.
That has seen Fernandes linked with a number of Premier League and European clubs, including Manchester United, Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Portugal international, who also won the UEFA Nations League with his country last month, has a €35million release clause in his contract.
But Sporting can avoid having to sell their star man for that price by paying the player €5m if they rejected a bid that meets his clause.
And the Portuguese outfit’s president Frederico Verandas insisted: “He will not leave for €35m. The club president must know how to understand the dressing room and realise and recognise the value of these players.”
But United were said to have made a breakthrough this week with it claimed by Nicolo Schira of La Gazzetta dello Sport that the Premier League club had been in contact with the player’s representatives and had reached an agreement with them.
Yet Ducker, offering an update on Fernandes’ future on Twitter, insists that is not the case.
He said: “No new developments on Bruno Fernandes. There hasn’t been a new meeting between #mufc and his representatives, he hasn’t agreed personal terms with the club either.”
Bruno Fernandes scores STUNNING strike against Benfica
The Telegraph previously reported that Fernandes is Solskjaer’s preferred choice although Saul Niguez of Atletico Madrid is a possible alternative.
Discussing Fernandes’ future recently, Sporting coach Marcel Keizer admitted: “I want Bruno Fernandes to stay, but everyone knows the current situation. It’s going to be difficult to keep him going, he’s on vacation, we’ll see what happens.”
United are also keen on Harry Maguire of Leicester City as they look to strengthen defensively.
The 26-year-old England international was reportedly the subject of a £70m rejected bid yesterday with the Foxes demanding at least £90m to consider selling the centre-back.
Solskjaer is also set to have face-to-face talks with Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku on their returns to United with the duo having been heavily linked with moves away from Old Trafford.