Manchester United have made a breakthrough in their bid to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes and a deal is close to being finalised, sources have told ESPN.
United are set to seal a deal worth an initial £46.6 million for Fernandes with another £8.5m in add-ons if certain targets are met, including Champions League qualifications and appearances. The deal would also include another £12.7m in add-on relating to individual achievements by the player.
United are confident the Portugal international will now move to Old Trafford before Friday's transfer deadline, subject to a medical.
Negotiations for the 25-year-old had appeared to reach an impasse with Sporting holding out for a structured deal worth close to £67.7m.
But after a significant breakthrough in talks on Tuesday night, the Portuguese side are close to sanctioning his departure.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been keen to add a midfielder to his threadbare squad after losing Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay to injury.
On Tuesday, sources told ESPN that Barcelona had entered the race to sign Fernandes with a view of loaning him to Valencia, but United have now reached a compromise with Sporting and he is set to move to Old Trafford.
Fernandes has scored 67 goals in 137 appearances for Sporting since arriving from Sampdoria in 2017. He has scored twice in 19 games for Portugal.
