MANCHESTER UNITED risk missing out on £70million Bruno Fernandes this summer as the board refuse to back manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, according to reports.
The club are not so convinced by the Sporting Lisbon star, 24, while Solskjaer believes they should be willing to pay the hefty fee for the midfielder.
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According to Correio da Manha, United don’t want to pay more than £50m for a player who doesn’t regularly play in the Champions League.
This is despite the fact that Fernandes contributed to 50 goals in all competitions last season.
He has even been called the ‘next Frank Lampard’ due to his goalscoring ability, which saw him hit the back of the net 31 times last season.
If the Red Devils refuse to pay the money necessary to bring the 24-year-old to Old Trafford, the club will have shown that they are not 100 per cent backing their manager, who wants to sign the player.
Despite this, the board have backed the Norwegian to fork out a world-record £80m on Harry Maguire, as well as £70m on youngsters Daniel James and Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
The club will not sanction an improved offer unless Paul Pogba leaves, but the £180m asking price for the Frenchman could put teams off signing him.
Pogba’s agent, Mino Raiola, has made repeated statements expressing his player’s desire to leave Manchester United.
Likewise, the World Cup winner expressed his desire to seek a “new challenge” last month.
The Frenchman refused to comment after his side’s 2-0 win over Perth Glory earlier this week, but his personal desires could prove pivotal in earning himself a move away from Old Trafford.
This could prompt the United board to bring Fernandes to Manchester.
