Manchester United have increased their offer for Sporting Lisbon ace Bruno Fernandes.
The Portugal international has been long linked with a move to Man Utd with claims intensifying this month.
But the Red Devils have dragged their heels and have thus far been reluctant to meet Sporting’s transfer demands – a typical occurrence under the Glazers.
Now it appears that a breakthrough could be imminent.
The Sunday Times report that United ‘increased their offer’ from £42.5m to £46.4m over the weekend. While it is obviously closer to Sporting’s valuation for Fernandes, it is still less than what the Portuguese club are holding out for.
There’s a warning messing in the report for the United board to consider as deadline day looms. It states that ‘they are expected a better offer from another European club this week,’ which could be a method used to influence Ed Woodward into an agreement on Sporting’s terms.
Fernandes is expected to miss Sporting’s game with Maritimo on Monday evening.
This must be frustrating for the player, like it is for United fans. The squad wasn’t strong enough to compete at the beginning of the season – showing the club in a sorry state when you consider its potential to be the biggest in the world — and matters have worsened due to an injury crisis.
He would be a fine addition as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer demands time to complete his ‘cultural reboot’ and squad revamp at Old Trafford.
