Manchester United are reportedly hesitant to meet Sporting Lisbon’s demand of a €65 million upfront payment to land Bruno Fernandes.
According to a report by Portuguese outlet TVI 24, Bruno Fernandes’s transfer to Manchester United could be in jeopardy. The Premier League heavyweights are only willing to shell out €50 million upfront to land the Portuguese international, while Sporting Lisbon want a €65 million initial fee instead.
The Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United saga has dragged on ever since the start of the summer transfer window. Back then, coming off an exceptional 2018-19 season, the Portuguese playmaker was reportedly pursued by the Red Devils, only for the transfer to never see the light of the day.
Fernandes, meanwhile, has continued his fine run of form with 15 goals and 13 assists in 25 outings across all competitions so far this season. The links with Manchester United invariably resurfaced ahead of the January transfer window, with reports even suggesting that they had opened talks with Sporting Lisbon over a winter move for their captain.
Manchester United do appear to be in need of a player like Fernandes, with midfield a department that is in desperate of reinforcements. With Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay on the sidelines, Fred appears to be the only player who can make any sort of difference on a consistent basis, even though Nemanja Matic has been in fine touch lately.
In particular, Manchester United are also in serious need of goals from midfield, with Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood the only three players who have found the back of the net with any regularity till date this season. Indeed, Pogba’s absence has dried up goals from the midfielders as well.
Therefore, all things considered, Fernandes is a viable target for Manchester United, with his free-scoring ways and creative abilities making him a potential asset. Recent reports have gone so far as to indicate that the English giants have agreed personal terms with the player.
While Fernandes is expected to play for Sporting when they take on Benfica on Friday, a transfer is reportedly but a formality. However, if TVI 24 are to be believed, that is not necessarily the case, with Manchester United and Sporting reaching an impasse over the initial fee.
While Sporting Lisbon want €65 million as upfront payment, Manchester United are only willing to shell out €50 million for such a fee. The Portuguese heavyweights initially wanted a player or two on loan as part of the deal to sell Fernandes to United, but with such a deal unlikely to go through, they have upped their demands.
The initial upfront fee now perhaps, remains the only bone of contention between Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United and it will be interesting to see if they can reach an agreement over a fee. For now, Sporting’s demands of a €65 million payment seem to have been deemed as unrealistic.
