Sporting Lisbon president Frederico Varandas has arrived at Manchester United’s offices to discuss a deal for midfielder Bruno Fernandes.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer flew to Portugal on Sunday with assistant Mike Phelan to cast an eye over transfer target Bruno Fernandes in Sporting’s clash against FC Porto.
The midfielder was a target for the club last summer but United had reservations about his ability to retain possession and were unwilling to meet the club’s £70m valuation.
However, United will be without midfielders Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba for at least the next month and Solskjaer is desperate to strengthen in the centre of the park.
Record claim that Varandas and Sporting Lisbon director Hugo Viana are ‘currently’ at United’s offices to discuss a deal for Fernandes after the Red Devils extended an invite to open discussions.
The Portuguese club are willing to sell Fernandes but they will drive a hard bargain and are likely to demand a fee in the region of £70m.
Fernandes hit 31 goals in 52 appearances last season and has continued a rich vein of form this term, bagging 13 goals in 21 games.
The midfielder would add some much-needed creativity to United’s midfield and Solskjaer has significant money to spend this month after failing to use the £74m banked from Romelu Lukaku’s move to Inter Milan last summer.
Solskjaer remained coy on the speculation regarding Fernandes when he was questioned about the midfielder at his press conference on Friday.
‘We go back to speculations and we do go and watch games all the time, where I’ve been is irrelevant, that’s another player in a different club I can’t speak about,’ said Solskjaer.
But Sporting director, Silas, has confirmed the club could lose Fernandes this month.
‘Bruno [Fernandes] is a huge player and all players like him have a lot of market,’ said the former Wolves man.
‘I don’t like to think about that, but I’ll be thinking of alternatives in case Bruno leaves. I hope it doesn’t happen, but we have to start thinking that.’
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