Just 10 days remain in the January transfer window and we are still no closer to knowing where the future of Bruno Fernandes lies.
There has been no secret of Manchester United’s interest in the Sporting Lisbon midfielder this month, but as of yet, no deal has been agreed.
Frustration is growing with United still haggling over the fee for the 25-year-old Portugal international, as per Duncan Castles of the Daily Record.
United already made the mistake of not signing the playmaker in the summer and surely they won’t walk away empty handed from negotiations yet again with such desperation for midfield additions.
We will certainly sympathise with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer if he is not provided a midfielder of Fernandes’ ilk to bolster his depleted squad this month.
While Solskjaer has been criticised for his handling of the fitness for Marcus Rashford, his ever presence in the side is a sign of the lack of strength in depth United have in the first place. Solskjaer cannot account for his best two midfielders Scott McTominay and Paul Pogba being ruled out for significant periods of the season.
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However, perhaps an encouraging sign for United fans in the Bruno Fernandes chase is that Sporting are reportedly closing in on Slovan Bratislava player Andraz Sporar and are set to complete the signing of the striker today.
That’s according to journalist Chris Winterburn, who claims the player rejected a move to Celtic this month.
Sporar, a forward, is not a direct replacement for Fernandes, but there is a suggestion that his signing may be funded by the sale of their captain.
The Portuguese club are cash strapped and would struggle to bring in new players without sales, so this certainly provides some hope for United fans that a Fernandes move could be moving closer.
Winterburn says that a key part in Sporting’s strategy was to reinvest some of the funds from the Fernandes sale back into the first-team squad.
Sporting set to complete signing of Andraz Sporar today it would appear. Not a Bruno Fernandes replacement directly on the pitch, but was key part of club’s strategy to reinvest portion of the money. Read into that what you will. Player rejected a move to Glasgow Celtic in Jan.
— Chris Winterburn (@cmwinterburn) January 21, 2020
We hope this is not wishful thinking and the two clubs can finally reach a compromise or United pay the asking price for the midfielder as he is exactly what Solskjaer needs this month.
Fernandes is the best player in the Primera Liga and scored 32 goals in all competitions last season, a record for a midfielder.
He can operate at no10 or in a no8 role and would be greatly welcomed by fans at Old Trafford for his quality on the ball, work rate and goalscoring ability.
Bruno Fernandes stats this season:
Games: 24
Goals: 13
Assists: 13Bruno Fernandes last season:
Games: 53
Goals: 32
Assists: 18This man would be an unreal signing. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rsyOVCnjor
— Devils of United 🔰 (@DevilsOfUnited) January 11, 2020
