Solskjaer ‘reluctant’ over one demand as €70m Fernandes deal nears

Joe Williams
Bruno Fernandes Sporting Lisbon

Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes has agreed personal terms with Manchester United but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer doesn’t want to send any players in the opposite direction, according to reports.

Reports emerged on Tuesday that the Red Devils had struck a €70m deal to sign Fernandes from the Portuguese giants.

Fernandes has managed to contribute 13 goals and ten assists in 21 matches in all competitions this season for Sporting, so it’s not hard to see why United would target him.

There is an expectation that Fernandes will play against arch-rivals Benfica on Friday before potentially wrapping up a move to United over the weekend.

And now the Daily Telegraph claims that Fernandes has agreed personal terms with Man Utd as the move ‘edges closer’.

The report adds:

‘Sporting are still interested in taking a United player, either on loan or permanently.

‘They rebuffed the offer of a loan deal for goalkeeper Joel Pereira. Marcos Rojo has been mooted as an option but a deal involving the Argentina defender has its complications. Solskjaer is reluctant to allow anyone to leave until he has strengthened his squad.’