Man Utd transfer news LIVE: Bruno Fernandes agrees move, Christian Eriksen talks, Lukaku

Manchester United transfer news LIVE updates: All the latest from Old Trafford

Tuesday, August 6

• Manchester United have agreed a contract with Sporting Lisbon ace Bruno Fernandes
• Red Devils striker Romelu Lukaku has been training with Anderlecht in Belgium
• Lukaku has been the subject of interest from Juventus and Inter Milan
• United rejected a bid for Paul Pogba from Real Madrid at the weekend 
• Stay tuned for all the latest from Old Trafford as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward face a race against time to do more deals

Tottenham want Man Utd to bid for Christian Eriksen

Tottenham want Manchester United to make a bid for Christian Eriksen before the transfer window closes on Thursday.

The Red Devils are looking to bolster their midfield after completing the record signing of Harry Maguire from Leicester.

And Spurs could sell as they’re desperate not to lose Eriksen and Toby Alderweireld on free transfers next summer.

Both have entered the final year of their contracts and Tottenham would be tempted to cash-in this week.

The Manchester Evening News claim Spurs were ‘gutted’ that United didn’t make a move for Alderweireld earlier in the window.

The Belgian had a £25m release clause in his contract which expired on July 25.

United have shown interest in Eriksen in recent months but are cautious about dealing with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

Man Utd make offer for Moussa Dembele

Manchester United have reportedly submitted an offer for former Celtic and Fulham striker Moussa Dembele.

Manchester United are racing to get a number of deals done before Thursday’s 5pm deadline.

And shock reports from France suggest the Red Devils have made an offer for Lyon striker Dembele.

It is unclear how much the Ligue 1 side would demand for the 23-year-old, who has hit 20 goals in 26 starts.

Yahoo Sports’ France reporter Manu Lonjon confirmed on Twitter that United have made a bid for Dembele.

He wrote: “English offer for M Dembele (OL)! It would be Man Utd!”

Man Utd reject fresh Romelu Lukaku bid

Manchester United have rejected a new £68million bid from Inter Milan for Romelu Lukaku.

The Belgian is wanted by the Serie A side but the Red Devils are holding out for the £75m they paid Everton back

Furthermore it is understood Lukaku was meant to return to training with Manchester United today.

Instead he has remained in Belgium where he has been getting ready for the new season with Vincent Company’s Anderlecht.

Sky Sports say the fresh offer made by Inter Milan has been rejected by Ed Woodward.

Neymar offered to Manchester United

Manchester United have turned down the opportunity to loan Neymar for the upcoming season, according to reports in Spain.

Neymar is attempting to force his way out of Paris Saint-Germain as he wants to return to former side Barcelona.

However, Spanish publication Sport claim the French giants have bad blood with Barcelona and are determined not to do a deal with the Catalans.

Man Utd, Real Madrid and Juventus have all been offered Neymar on a 12-month loan deal for £18million (€20m).

But Sport say the Red Devils quickly turned down the opportunity because of the extortionate wages they would have to cover.

Wayne Rooney done deal

Wayne Rooney will return to England in January to join Derby County.

The United legend – the club’s all-time top goalscorer – has penned an 18-month deal to join Derby as a player-coach.

The 33-year-old’s contract has an option for him to extend his playing career by a further year.

Rooney will first see out the remainder of the current Major League Soccer campaign with DC United.

Improved Pogba bid

Real Madrid could look to include three players in an improved bid for Paul Pogba.

That’s according to Marca, though they warn that there is no guarantee the players included will want to move to Old Trafford.

James Rodriguez was included in a player-plus-cash opening offer that United quickly rejected.

Gareth Bale is among the other outcasts who could be offered to the Red Devils.

Solskjaer wants two

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is keen to make two more signings before the transfer window closes for Premier League at 5pm on Thursday.

The Evening Standard report that Solskjaer wants a midfielder and an attacker.

United had been in talks with Juventus for Paulo Dybala, as part of a swap deal with Romelu Lukaku, and Mario Mandzukic while they have also been linked with Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen as midfield options.

It is claimed that Solskjaer would however be comfortable going into the new campaign without any more recruits.

United’s Eriksen stance

Manchester United are aware their hopes of signing Christian Eriksen from Tottenham will be difficult.

That’s according to the Evening Standard, who claim United chiefs have made it known that they are keen on the Dane.

Eriksen is said to have long been on a list of potential replacements for Paul Pogba.

And United have doubt that Pogba will be at Old Trafford this season, although they also question whether Madrid can meet their £150m valuation of the player. 

Harry Maguire doubt

Manchester United coaches reportedly have doubts that Harry Maguire is even the best defender at the club, despite the Red Devils spending £80million on the player.

United’s big-money splash on the Leicester City centre-back made him the most expensive defender ever, surpassing the £75m Liverpool spent on Virgil van Dijk.

But the Independent claim some United staff think Victor Lindelof is a better defender than Maguire.

Lindelof and Maguire together, they will hope, can stem the defensive rot that undermined United last term as they leaked 54 goals in the Premier League.

Eriksen interest

Manchester United-linked Christian Eriksen is reportedly set to be the subject of bids of less than £50million from teams across Europe.

That’s according to the Telegraph, who say Spurs expect cut-price offers for the Dane if he is not sold before Thursday evening.

Eriksen is out of contract in a year’s time and can enter pre-contract talks with European clubs as early as January.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid both have Eriksen on their radars, it is said.

Bruno Fernandes twist

According to Portuguese journalist Goncalo Lopes, Tottenham have reached an agreement with Bruno Fernandes.

Lopes says this morning that Fernandes and his agent and Tottenham have agreed terms.

Spurs have not agreed a fee with Sporting Lisbon, who are likely to demand around £65million for their captain.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

Manchester United are working on a deal for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, according to Spanish outlet Marca.

Lazio’s Serbian midfielder has long been linked to Old Trafford.

Express Sport has previously reported that United do not want to sign Milinkovic-Savic, who would likely command a fee close to £100m.

But reports in Spain claim otherwise, suggesting that talks are advanced between United and Lazio.

Paul Pogba attitude

Paul Pogba will continue to put in the same amount of effort as he did last season for Manchester United, even if he is unable to secure a transfer to Real Madrid.

That’s the opinion of former West Ham goalkeeper Shaka Hislop.

Real Madrid are keen to sign Paul Pogba and the Frenchman wants to join Los Blancos, but the Spanish club will face great difficulty doing so after Thursday, when the transfer window shuts for Premier League clubs.

And Hislop told ESPN FC: “I think Paul Pogba will continue to give his absolute best for Man Utd if he stays.

“As much as he wants to go, he doesn’t impress me as the type of person or player who will throw all his toys out the pram, and won’t try for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Manchester United.

“He’ll continue to give [his best]. He wasn’t at his best [last season]. But I don’t think that was as a result of him being upset with the club or some sort of on field protest.

“It was just a case of him not playing well.”

Harry Maguire warning

Virgil van Dijk has warned Harry Maguire that being the world’s most expensive defender comes with extra pressure to deliver.

Manchester United finally completed the £80m signing of the England centre-back to eclipse the £75m Liverpool paid Southampton for the Dutch international in January 2018.

When Liverpool were crowned European champions 18 months later having closed the gap in the Premier League on Manchester City, Jurgen Klopp was hailed for having got himself a bargain with Van Dijk such a central figure to the club’s revival in fortunes.

And now Manchester United fans will be expecting much the same of their new arrival from Leicester.

“Good luck to him,” Van Dijk said of the man who took his record. “I can’t say anything about that because there was always going to be a time when it was going to change. That’s the market.

“He doesn’t have any influence on that but I wish him well. The price comes with pressure but it doesn’t change too much because you always have pressure at big clubs like Manchester United.

“You need just to focus on doing what you love to do and play your best game. Get your qualities out of the pitch, enjoy your game and don’t think about the other things.

“It is not easy to completely shut off all the pressure. Personally, I like to put things in perspective.

“Quite a lot of things are more important than playing football and what we do, we are blessed. We can do what we love to do and also to play for Liverpool – they are such a big club. You need to enjoy it but the pressure will always be there.”

Bruno Fernandes agrees move

Manchester United have agreed a contract with Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, says La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Nicolo Schira.

The club spoke with the player’s agent overnight, and agreed a six-year deal worth around £106,000-a-week, according to Schira.

But, if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ed Woodward want to complete the deal, they’ll have to part with £65million (€70), he warned.

The overnight developments came after reports that United had walked away from a possible deal for Fernandes, despite being linked to the player all summer.

“Tonight #BrunoFernandes’s agent has talked with #ManchesterUnited to close the agreement for the player (ready a contract by €6M a year until 2025),” tweeted Schira.

“Now #RedDevils must finalize the deal with #Sporting for €70m.”

Paul Pogba bid ‘ridiculous’

Real Madrid’s rejected bid for Paul Pogba proves that they don’t have the funds to meet Manchester United’s valuation of the midfielder.

That’s the belief of Sky Sports transfer reporter Kaveh Solhekol.

Real Madrid made a first official offer for the World Cup winner at the weekend of €30m (£27.6m) plus outcast James Rodriguez, which was flatly rejected by United.

“It was a ridiculous bid, I don’t think Manchester United would have taken it seriously,” Solhekol said on Sky Sports’ Transfer Show. 

“It’s something they would have laughed off. Maybe Real Madrid were just testing the water with it to see what Manchester United would do.

“But Manchester United have made it very clear he is not for sale and secondly if they were to sell him he would cost £150m.

“Offering James Rodriguez and €30m tells you that Real Madrid cannot afford Paul Pogba.

“They’ve spent too much money already this summer, around £250m, and the only way they could afford him is if they sell Gareth Bale.”

Christian Eriksen switch

Manchester United are working on a deal to sign Christian Eriksen from Tottenham before Thursday, say the Daily Mail.

The report claims the Dane’s representatives are confident of securing a deal for Eriksen to join the Red Devils.

The 27-year-old is out of contract with Spurs next year and had spoken of a desire to leave the club this summer.

A move to Real Madrid has not transpired and United are preparing an offer, say the Mail.

They claim United could make a bid of around £60-65m for the player, who Spurs wanted £130m for at the start of the window.

Romelu Lukaku plan

Manchester United may not replace Romelu Lukaku, even if they sell the Belgian to Inter Milan or Juventus.

The Mirror claim United are happy with their squad after the emergence of academy prospects, in particular Mason Greenwood, and will not rush in a replacement if Lukaku is sold.

The striker was seemingly close to sealing a switch to Juve only for a swap deal involving Paulo Dybala to break down.

Antonio Conte and Inter could now make a fresh approach for the £75million-rated frontman.