Manchester United will hand Bruno Fernandes a contract worth £150,000-a-week when the Sporting Lisbon captain completes his move to Old Trafford.
United are moving to add the Portugal international to their ranks this month.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his No.2, Mike Phelan, were both in attendance for final checks on Fernandes during Sporting’s clash with Porto last week.
And that led to United deciding to push to land the 25 year-old, a long-time target, immediately, as they seek to add to a midfield currently without injured pair Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay.
That need, to strengthen this month as they push for a top four place, is a big reason why they are moving for Fernandes rather than another target, Bayer Leverkusen's Kai Havertz.
Leverkusen insist the 20 year-old German international, also a major target for Bayern Munich, is not available until the summer.
Fernandes is keen to join United, who will hand him a four-and-a-half year contract.
He scored 31 goals last season for Sporting, and has 15 from 25 appearances for Sporting this term, including two in a weekend win over Vitoria Setubal.
Ed Woodward, United’s executive vice-chairman, held discussions with Sporting president Frederico Varandas on Friday at the club’s Mayfair offices in London, but the clubs are yet to agree a fee and negotiations are ongoing.
Sporting value Fernandes at £50million, with add-ons taking that figure to the £65million mark. They have debts to pay this month to the tune of £40million, and cashing in on their prized asset is their best way of raising the necessary funds.
Yet, United had been keen on a player-plus cash deal with Joel Pereira, Angel Gomes or Marcos Rojo heading to the Portuguese capital; Sporting aren’t interested in the former pair however, while Rojo’s salary is too high.