Man Utd submit opening £31m bid, ready to offer player £100k-a-week contract

Managers are working hard trying to strengthen their squads during the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Man Utd formalise their interest in Bruno Fernandes…

Manchester United have submitted an opening £31m bid for Bruno Fernandes and are ready to offer the Sporting Lisbon attacking midfielder a contract worth around £100,000-a-week, according to journalist Nicolo Schira.

Ole Gunner Solskjaer is wasting no time revamping his squad this summer as the United boss has already snapped up winger Daniel James from Swansea while right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka completed his move from Crystal Palace on Saturday.

However, Solskjaer is expected to bring in up to three more new faces before the start of the 2019/20 Premier League season and Fernandes has been touted as a prime target in recent weeks.

The Mirror cited reports from O Jogo that claimed Fernandes’ agent held talks with Man Utd chiefs in England last week after the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool reportedly dropped out of the race to sign the midfielder.

The Portuguese outlet said United were refusing to meet Sporting Lisbon’s £70m valuation and it seems they’re trying to drive the price down as Italian journalist Nicolo Schira claims the Red Devils have now tabled an opening offer worth just £31m [€35m].

Schira – who works for Gazzetta dello Sport – claims Sporting are demanding more but United are ready to try and lure Fernandes with a contract worth £5.38m per season plus bonuses, which works out at just over £100,000-a-week, if the two clubs can agree a fee.

#ManchesterUnited have offered to #Sporting €35M for #BrunoFernandes. Contacts ongoing, but Sporting want more. For him is ready a contract by €6M at year plus bonuses. #transfers #MUFC #mutd

— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) June 30, 2019

Negotiations are on-going but it looks like United are stepping-up their efforts to sign Fernandes and he would be an exciting addition to Solskjaer’s squad if they could get a deal agreed.

The 24-year-old has just come off the back of a superb campaign that saw him provide an incredible 32 goals and 18 assists in his 53 appearances for Sporting while he also helped Portugal win the Nations League earlier this month.

Fernandes is one of the most dangerous attacking midfielders in Europe so he should bring some much-needed creativity to the United squad if they can sign the Portuguese international.

READ –> Man Utd transfer news

However, his arrival would cast further doubt over the future of Paul Pogba amid speculation the French super star is eyeing a move away from Old Trafford this summer.