Manchester United could reportedly make a bid for Bruno Fernandes next week with the Red Devils heavily linked with a move for the Sporting Lisbon midfielder. United had initially been linked with a transfer for the Portuguese star in the summer with speculation mounting again.
United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is believed to be keen on signing a midfielder with Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic’s futures both in doubt.
Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward has come under plenty of pressure with many calls suggesting he does not do enough business for the Red Devils.
Fernandes, 25, would fill a much needed hole in Solskjaer’s squad and transfer expert Duncan Castles reports a bid could be made by next week.
Speaking on the Reach PLC Transfer Window Podcast, Castles said: “People near Fernandes are briefing that they expect an offer to come from Manchester United in this window.
“In fact there is a briefing that they expect it to come by next week.
“We’ll see if that’s right. We know the briefing from his representative has been inaccurate in the past.
“Although they [United] never made a bid in the summer, they were asking his representatives to hold fire on moving to Tottenham Hotspur.
“They basically wanted to have the option to match or better any offer that Tottenham had accepted by Sporting and Sporting never accepted Tottenham’s various offers they bid for the player.”
“We’ve still got the same thoughts we had a month ago.
“We’ve got the players we have, working with the ones we have and if something happens we’ll tell you. I can’t say yes or no but wouldn’t expect many ins and outs.”
Manchester United are back in action in the Premier League against Norwich at Old Trafford today (3pm).