Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Ed Woodward missed Man Utd loss to Burnley in bid to push through Bruno Fernandes transfer
Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is trying to sign Bruno Fernandes in the January transfer window.
Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd transfer in 'severe doubt' says pundit
Manchester United chief Ed Woodward was nowhere to be seen as fans chanted for him to call time on his Old Trafford career on Wednesday night because he was trying to push through a transfer deal for Bruno Fernandes. Express Sport understands Sporting Lisbon captain Fernandes is Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s top January target but the prospective switch is being held up by disagreement over the size of the fee involved.
Woodward and his Sporting counterparts have been trying to hammer out the terms of a deal for the past two weeks, but both sides have been left frustrated so far.
The executive vice-chairman bore the brunt of plenty of flak on Wednesday evening as United suffered a demoralising 2-0 defeat at the hands of relegation-threatened Burnley.
While fans were directing their anger towards Woodward, he was busy trying to get some business done in order to bolster Solskjaer’s injury-hit squad.
Woodward usually ends up on supporters’ TV screens, showing his displeasure, when United are failing to perform in a televised match, as was the case against Burnley.
JUST IN: Man Utd's stance on sacking Ole Gunnar Solskjaer after Burnley defeat
However, this time around, he was spared the humiliation of having his unhappy face being beamed to millions as he wasn’t even in the stands at Old Trafford.
In fact, the last time Woodward was pictured at Old Trafford was during United’s 4-0 Premier League win over Norwich on January 11.
United’s defeat, which came courtesy of goals from Chris Wood and Jay Rodriguez, highlighted their need for reinforcements, particularly in the final third.
Andreas Pereira, Juan Mata and, later, Jesse Lingard proved incapable of creating any chances of note, while Anthony Martial failed to show the predatory instinct a striker needs.
Fernandes, on the other hand, has been in sensational form this season, with 13 goals and 10 assists coming in 21 appearances in the Europa League and Primeira Liga combined.
DON'T MISS
Man Utd consider shock Carlos Tevez transfer deal
United have already managed to agree personal terms with Fernandes, who is in line to sign a five-and-a-half-year contract if he heads to Manchester.
United will have the option to extend that deal by 12 months, with the midfielder earning £150,000 a week, representing a significant rise on his current Sporting wages.
United turned to Fernandes this month after being forced to cool their interest in James Maddison, Jack Grealish, Christian Eriksen and Donny van de Beek.
Leicester and Aston Villa’s respective desire to keep hold of the first two options meant a January deal would be impossible.
Eriksen, meanwhile, is expected to leave Tottenham for Inter Milan and Van de Beek has spoken out about his eagerness to stay at Ajax until at least the summer.