Fernandes ready for Man Utd move ‘at any minute’ as Sporting shares hike

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes is ready to leave the club ‘at any minute’, according to reports, following heavy speculation over a move to Manchester United.

Following links with the midfielder last summer, United are said to have opened talks with Sporting to seal a transfer for Fernandes in the January transfer window, with various reports offering different takes on the situation.

The Red Devils had reportedly offered £51m up front as well as up to three players, a trio which may include defender Marcos Rojo.

However, Sporting reportedly disagreed and have demanded £50m up front as well as £15m in add-ons, with the structure of those add-ons said to remain a key issue.

What’s more, the Portuguese side are believed to have abandoned their chase for Rojo and want Fernandes to stay for the clash with fierce rivals Benfica on Friday.

According to the latest from Portuguese newspaper Record (via Sport Witness), Fernandes’ transfer to Old Trafford could be finalised ‘at any minute’, with the player training as normal while waiting for an update from the club or his agent.

However, the reported lack of an official offer from United means a deal has now been put on the back burner until the Red Devils come up with a firmer offer.

Meanwhile, the latest reports arrive as Sporting’s shares are said to have experienced a 5.96 per cent increase and a 6% hike in value.

Speaking to  Jornal de Negocios (via Sport Witness), Gualter Pacheco, a trader from Go Bulling at Carregosa Bank, hinted that the increase could be down to the sale of Fernandes to United.

He said: “Really, if we look at the liquidity, very few shares were traded.  But if we consider the appreciation of the title, it’s a strong rise.

“The main cause is the possible sale of Bruno Fernandes which, to happen for the high values that have been disclosed, would be very positive for the company accounts.”

 

 

In other United transfer news, Juventus are reportedly prepared to allow either Paulo Dybala or Adrien Rabiot to leave the club as they look to bring Paul Pogba back to Turin.

Pogba moved back to Manchester United from Juve in 2016 after a stunning spell in the Serie A but he has only shown glimpses of his talent and his second Old Trafford spell has been marred by injury.

Real Madrid have been heavily linked with a move for the Frenchman in recent months but according to Italian source Tuttosport, Juve remain keen.

The source says that Dybala – who was close to a move to Tottenham in the summer – or Rabiot, who has only made 11 Serie A outings this term –  could be sacrificed by Maurizio Sarri’s side.