Manchester United go back to Bruno Fernandes

Manchester United are reconsidering a move for Sporting Lisbon attacking midfielder Bruno Fernandes, as they miss out on their prime targets.

According to a report in Goal, Fernandes is moving up United’s shortlist as they have failed to sign Erling Haaland. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had expected to bring the 19-year-old striker in from RB Salzburg but he has instead joined Borussia Dortmund after extensive work from the German side.

The 25-year-old Portuguese playmaker would be expected to step into the void left by Paul Pogba’s unspecified injury, which could see the Frenchman out of first team action for a number of months. Added to this, Scott McTominay is also injured, which leaves United down to Andreas Pereira, Fred, and Nemanja Matic. Youngster James Garner has been given limited time under Solskjaer so would not be ready for any first-team action on a regular basis.

United have also had interest in Sean Longstaff from Newcastle United, but a move in the summer broke down. They have failed to land Christian Eriksen from Spurs, with the Danish playmaker set for a £20 million move to Italian side Inter Milan.

James Maddison is another target for United, but the club believe they have more chance of signing him in the summer. There was speculation recently of a part-exchange offer to Leicester of Jesse Lingard and £45 million, but it is unclear why Leicester would want a deal worth just £25 million in total.

United have sent their scouts to extensively research potential options at the biggest clubs in Portugal, hinting that they have been caught on the back foot in January yet again.

The club close to the top four but have failed to find the consistency to mount a serious challenge, and Solskjaer is known to want a couple of signings before the window closes.