Manchester United were one of the front-runners for the signature of promising Portuguese midfielder Renato Sanches but they pulled out of the move at the last minute to leave the door open for Bayern Munich to snap him up.
Sanches was considered to be one of the top transfer targets for Manchester United, having been constantly linked with a move to the Premier League club since January. However, Sanches has made Germany his next destination after recently signing a five-year deal with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich for 28 million pounds, which could see the fee rise to 63 million pounds with add-ons.
The Bavarians were helped by the fact that United reportedly lost interest in the Benfica midfielder mere days before Bayern signed him up. The club had been scouting him extensively, but his huge transfer fee and the availability of other options may have swayed their interests. Although they were keen on signing him, Manchester United did not bid for Sanches, and there are two other Portuguese players who could be the reason behind this decision.
Valencia’s Andre Gomes to be the first Mourinho signing at Manchester United
Louis van Gaal is looking very likely to be sacked at the end of the season, as Manchester United bring an uninspiring campaign to a bitter end. They still have the slightest of chances to make the top four and qualify for the Champions League, but they would need to win against AFC Bournemouth and hope Manchester City lose to Swansea to pull off that miraculous feat.
The rumors surrounding the arrival of Jose Mourinho to Old Trafford have only intensified with time, and it is being speculated that he is already making transfer plans for the Red Devils. One of his top targets in the summer is reportedly Valencia and Portugal midfielder Andre Gomes.
The 22 year old central midfielder moved to Los Che in 2014 from Benfica and has been a key player for them since arriving at the club. Valencia are willing to let him go for around 50 million pounds, even though they had allegedly agreed at a 35 million pound fee with Mourinho should the Portuguese take over at Manchester United.
The inexperience of Renato Sanches is believed to be one of the main reasons why the Red Devils had second thoughts about making a huge bid for the 18-year-old. While Sanches just broke into the Benfica first team this season, Gomes has had four full seasons as a first team player in Portugal and Spain.
Manchester United interested in another Portuguese talent from Sporting CP
Manchester United have a long association with Portuguese club Sporting Clube de Portugal. The Primiera Liga club gifted the Red Devils one of their finest players in Cristiano Ronaldo, and they were also involved in the transfer of another young talent, Nani, in 2007.
It now seems like the two clubs are looking to do business once again, as another Sporting CP player has caught the eye of the Premier League giants. 23 year old Joao Mario has been one of the mainstays for Sporting this season, and is now poised to make a move to Manchester United in the summer, according to the Daily Star.
Mario is a midfielder of the finest mould — gifted with great technical ability and skill on the ball, able to hold play with great passing accuracy and awareness. He has scored seven goals and registered 12 assists playing in a central midfield role, as well as occasionally filling in at right wing for Sporting CP.
The 23-year-old is a very important member of the team and Sporting would be unwilling to lose him. He is contracted to the club till 2020, but has a release clause of 45 million pounds inserted into his contract. Mario himself is believed to be keen on securing a move to Manchester United and this leaves Sporting CP with no other option but to go through with a deal.
