Barcelona make bigger Bruno Fernandes transfer offer than Man Utd with decision hours away (Image: Getty)
Barcelona have made a bigger offer than Manchester United for Bruno Fernandes - but the player will decide on his future in the coming hours. Express Sport understands that United have agreed a deal worth £55.1million with Sporting Lisbon.
Man United: Solskjaer says he has ‘no updates’ on Fernandes
Sporting are said to be having financial struggles and want to pocket as much as possible from the sale of Fernandes - but have now put his future in his own hands.
The 25-year-old will ostensibly make the final call on his next career move in a matter of hours.
Fernandes has been desperate to join United since the 20-time champions of England made an opening bid earlier this month.
Whether Barcelona’s interest will turn his head is as yet unknown but there are deeper motives to the Spanish giants’ move.
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Blaugrana are seeking a replacement for striker Luis Suarez, who has been sidelined until May with a knee injury.
They have identified Valencia frontman Rodrigo as the Uruguayan’s replacement but the Mestalla club want Fernandes on loan until the end of the season as part of a deal.
Barca’s plan was, therefore, to sign Fernandes and loan him to Valencia, who would lend them Rodrigo in return.
Super-agent Jorge Mendes has played a large part in exposing Barcelona’s interest, which rushed United into upping their bid.
Bruno Fernandes has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season (Image: Getty)
Moments before United struck their new £55.1m deal, Sky Sports News journalist Kaveh Solhekol explained: "Who is involved in all this? Jorge Mendes.
"He is the man negotiating the deal for Rodrigo to go from Barcelona to Valencia - and he's also involved in the deal to take Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United or elsewhere.
"Sporting, Barcelona and Valencia all look like being the winners, while Manchester United, who lost out on Erling [Braut] Haaland [to Borussia Dortmund], look like being the losers again at the moment.
“Is this just a negotiating tactic from Mendes to get Manchester United to increase their offer?
“That's another way of looking at it but the information we have right now is that Barcelona's interest in Bruno Fernandes is genuine."