Manchester United Hoping To Beat Rivals City To Midfielder Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United look likely to go into a transfer tug of war with local rivals and Premier League winners Manchester City over Sporting midfielder Bruno Fernandes.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has a big task on his hands this summer to rebuild Manchester United back towards a title contending team and he has to do it without the lure of Champions League football next season after his team finished the season sixth in the Premier League.

Before anyone leaves Old Trafford there's a good argument that the Red Devils need a forward, a central midfielders, a centre back and a right back.

Ander Herrera is departing the club so that means they need another midfielder and then there's still question marks about the futures of Juan Mata and Paul Pogba, that could be a big overhaul in the middle of the pitch.

United have been linked with young Newcastle United midfielder Sean Longstaff but they're still lacking in midfield.

However according to Portuguese outlet A Bola one answer to their problems could come from Sporting in the former of Bruno Fernandes.

Bruno Fernandes could be on his way to the Premier League. Image: PA Images

The report says United have jumped ahead of rivals City with Pep Guardiola's team only willing to offer £49 million and Solskjaer's team willing to pay up to £71 million for the player.

Fernandes has a release clause of around £89 million but it's unlikely that either side would need to pay quite that much to sign him.

The report claims that despite the 24 year old currently being with the Portuguese national squad the deal could be done within the next week.

Longstaff, left, has been heavily linked with United. Image: PA Images

He is currently part of the Nations League squad, with the semi finals and finals taking place in Portugal, but could be allowed to leave the camp to complete he deal in England.

This season the Sporting captain has scored 32 goals and contributed 18 assists in 53 matches but the team finished third, well off the pace of the top two, in the Primera Liga.

Pogba in comparison scored 17 goals and put on 10 assists for his teammates in United's disappointing season in the league.

Will United get one over on their rivals in the transfer window?

Topics: Manchester City, Bruno Fernandes, Football News, Manchester United, Pep Guardiola, Transfer stories, Transfer rumours, Sporting, Premier League, Transfer news, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Ryan Sidle

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