Manchester United have reportedly lodged a fresh £46.4million offer to sign Bruno Fernandes – but Sporting Lisbon are holding out for a fee of £50.6m for their playmaker.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been desperate to add an attacking midfielder to his team this January window – as he plans for United’s long-term future without Pogba – and Fernandes has been identified as the club’s key target.
Sporting received a £42.5m offer from the Red devils for the 25-year-old last week, but the Portuguese side had no interest in selling the player at that price.
However, United remain confident of reaching an agreement this window, with Sporting beginning to lower their demands for the Portugese player.
The Times claims an improved offer of £46.4m – which includes performance-related bonuses for Sporting – was made for Fernandes on Saturday as they make one last push before the deadline.
But Sporting are not willing to agree to United’s proposal as they want an up front fee of £50.6m for the Portugal international.
Sporting Lisbon are expecting a rival offer from another European team this week.
Darren Fletcher believes United should sign a striker like Edinson Cavani as well as Fernandes before the January window closes on Friday.
Asked about Cavani, the former Man United midfielder told BBC Sport: ‘It’s a road they didn’t want to go down because they’ve been down that road before but maybe needs must at this time.
‘Probably a striker as well, [they need to sign] Bruno Fernandes and a striker. It’s at that case in time.
‘If Cavani is available, there’s talk of him going to Chelsea… Manchester United can’t allow Cavani to go to Chelsea.
‘I’m not sure if he is, whether it’s Atletico Madrid [he’s moving to], but if he’s going to Chelsea there’s no way Manchester United can let that happen, they’ve got to make sure he comes to Old Trafford.
‘If haggling over whatever the Bruno Fernandes deal is, it might mean us paying a little bit more, but they will see that tonight as well, Sporting Lisbon will see the desperation from Manchester United and it puts them in an even more powerful position to hold on to the player and get exactly what they want.’
