Man Utd 'plan to sign Bruno Fernandes for £23m', less than asking price

Manchester United have a plan to sign top summer target Bruno Fernandes for £22million less than Sporting Lisbon's asking price.

The Red Devils are keen on landing the Portuguese this month and have already made a €35m (£31m) bid for midfielder's services, according to some reports.

But Sporting are holding out for a figure closer to €60m (£54m), and have rejected Manchester United's reported transfer bid for Fernandes.

The Portuguese club are hoping that a bidding war will emerge following the bid, and that they will eventually be offered a more lucrative sum.

A bidding war has the potential to ruin United's chances of landing Fernandes.

But according to Portuguese newspaper Jornal de Noticias, per Sport Witness, Sporting's determination to receive a huge transfer fee has in fact had the opposite effect and has driven away the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham.

The report adds that Man United are aware of this fact and are relaxed in their pursuit of Fernandes.

The Red Devils are now hoping that the midfielder will put pressure on his club to sell him and that they will eventually have to part ways with Fernandes for the originally offered €35m.

This means that if United are patient and manage to execute their plan they will make a saving of £23m.