Bruno Fernandes: Man Utd will not pay Sporting Lisbon's 80m euro asking price

By Simon StoneBBC Sport

Last updated on 18 January 2020.From the section Man Utd498

Manchester United's attempt to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes has stalled because the clubs cannot agree a fee.

Sporting are demanding 80m euros (£68m) for the 25-year-old, which United are unwilling to pay.

Talks continue between the clubs for a player rated at 45m euros by Tottenham Hotspur last summer.

United have not ruled out targeting alternatives having made a priority of looking at midfield options this month.

However, they will only look at existing targets and with two weeks remaining before the transfer window closes, Fernandes remains their first choice.

United have told Sporting a deal will not be done unless they drop the fee.

Solskjaer and his assistant Mike Phelan watched Fernandes play against FC Porto on 5 January.

United take on leaders Liverpool at Anfield in the Premier League on Sunday (16:30 GMT kick-off).

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Comment posted by SteH11, at 11:35 18 Jan 2020
United have put themselves in this position by overspending in the past, now everyone is trying to make them pay over the odds.

Pogba £90 million, Di Maria £60 million, Maguire £80 million, Wan Bissaka £45 million, Lindelof £30 million, Bailly £30 million, Shaw £30 million, Mata £40 million, Matic £40 million, Lukaku £75 million, Fred £50 million, Martial £56 million.

Its your fault!
Comment posted by Perivale Elvis, at 11:15 18 Jan 2020
Not surprised they've asked so much. Man Utd have set loads of precedents for paying over the top prices for players.
Comment posted by Tim, at 11:16 18 Jan 2020
And the differernce is about four months wages that they paid to Sanchez for not playing at all...
Comment posted by The Casual Observer, at 11:19 18 Jan 2020
Very little point having HYS on football, any rational comments are overwhelmed by petty comments by the majority who don't happen to like or support the team that the article is about.
Comment posted by charles_law, at 11:27 18 Jan 2020
Pretty sure this is Ed Woodwards job. Once you pay 80 for a defender and 50 for a left back, 100 for pogba, 60 for di maria and 70 for lukaku, its difficult to then offer peanuts for fernandez.
Ed and man utd have set the standard for now paying crazy fees and unless you walk away from these transfers then you only have yourself (and Ed) to blame.
Comment posted by nozin around, at 11:23 18 Jan 2020
"There needs to be a fair rating scheme for players not one for the majority and a different more expensive one for United"

-----

so they now moan, whinge and cry because the so called biggest club in the word with all those bragged about riches and shirt sales in china can't bully clubs.

man utd made football all about money - its great to see you reaping the benefit.
Comment posted by Lol Lollington, at 11:17 18 Jan 2020
Should raise the price to 100m. Utd will pay it because they're desperate and stupid. An embarrassing combination. He'll stop playing for Utd in six months anyway and still get his wages. JUST LIKE ALL THE REST.
Comment posted by StanDinaround, at 11:31 18 Jan 2020
Utd just not that interested in their league position, just the Deloitte table.
Comment posted by William, at 11:29 18 Jan 2020
Trouble is that overseas clubs see English clubs coming, knowing they are drowning in tv money they hike the price for ordinary players. Then they see United coming, mega rich, and desperate for help to lift them out of their fall, and the price goes up further. Do English football a favour and tell them to push offand start bringing through the youth players, it worked before, it may work again.
Comment posted by reynoldo, at 12:04 18 Jan 2020
@119

You’re deluded if you think Liverpool’s success is down to the signing of one player, VVD. It has taken many years and numerous mistakes to get to where the team is now. And that’s the key - the team are better than any other team in the world right now. Alongside the fact they have a great manager too.
Comment posted by Kevin, at 11:17 18 Jan 2020
Please pay £68m! Another mercenary at Man Utd, Is love it lol
Comment posted by Celts, at 11:26 18 Jan 2020
Oh dear, looks like its gonna be Haaland all over again.

United fans had only just finished wiping egg off their faces from saying that one was a done deal, looks like they might have to be doing it again.
Comment posted by alan, at 11:28 18 Jan 2020
He can't be that good if no top clubs are interested
Comment posted by Merton Somersby, at 11:40 18 Jan 2020
Never a fan of Utd but 69. SteH11 is 100% correct. They've made a rod for their own back with their transfer policy. If Utd want to move forward as a football club, a good start would be getting rid of Woodward and replacing him with someone who knows a thing or two about football, instead of corporate sponsorship deals.
Comment posted by JuliusCaesarWasASocialist, at 11:31 18 Jan 2020
Trying to bully people into getting their way. That's at least one thing they've carried on doing since Fergie.

Horrible football club
Comment posted by Gravy, at 11:12 18 Jan 2020
and yet they were happy to pay more than that for Maguire. Hm
Comment posted by kickabout, at 11:32 18 Jan 2020
It’s a lose/lose again for the club.
Pay it and look weak.
Don’t pay it and tell the world you can’t land the players you want.
If they had kept this quiet they wouldn’t be in this position.
Yet another own goal (pun intended)
Comment posted by 815406, at 11:14 18 Jan 2020
Who cares?

Unless they buy a new player, in every position, who is better than they already have....then they are simply just not competitive any more.

Move on BBC, talk about clubs who matter.
Comment posted by Leivapool, at 11:25 18 Jan 2020
I see Woody Woodpecker is excelling again ;-)
Comment posted by Cheers of a Clown, at 11:11 18 Jan 2020
£68 million is overpriced for a player who is untested in the Premier League.