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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer puts ‘pressure’ on Man Utd board to complete Bruno Fernandes transfer
MANCHESTER UNITED manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is putting “pressure” on Old Trafford chiefs to wrap up a deal for Bruno Fernandes.
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Fernandes is currently touring with Sporting Lisbon around central Europe as he waits for things to progress between the clubs.
The 24-year-old’s boyhood dream was to play in England and he wants to join the Premier League but will not down tools in order to force through a move.
Things seemed to have quietened over a prospective switch while Manchester United ramp up their pursuit of Harry Maguire, but Portuguese newspaper A Bola have today claimed Solskjaer is not taking his foot off the pedal.
The report claims United are in pole position for the player despite mild interest from Tottenham and that Solskjaer is hurrying the club to complete the transfer.
It also suggests a deal could be sewn up by the end of the week should United make a formal bid.
United officials have met with Fernandes’ agent Miguel Pinho at their London offices to hold talks, which have been promising.
It is thought the clubs are somewhat distant on their valuation of the player, though.
Sporting want £63m for Fernandes but expect United’s first bid to be up to £50m.
The midfielder intriguingly has a release clause of £31.5million, which jumps to £90m after this summer.
The Primeira Liga outfit will likely break that stipulation but, in doing so, must pay the player £4.5m.
A Bola also reported earlier in the week that Paul Pogba’s future will have no effect on whether the club bid for Fernandes.
Solskjaer has lost two midfielders, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera, since arriving at Old Trafford and wants to embellish his options in the middle of the park.
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The Norwegian is also interested in signing Newcastle holding midfielder Sean Longstaff, in keeping with his preference for young, British players, such as summer signings Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The boss dismissed that perception though, saying: “It doesn't matter if they are English, Norwegian, French, Brazilian. You just want good players and good people.
“Quality and speed, of course, is a big thing in football nowadays. The more X-factors you have in a team, the better you are."