Sporting want United target in their starting XI for Lisbon derby

Sporting Lisbon want Bruno Fernandes in their squad for Friday night’s Lisbon derby with Benfica.

As reports begin to circulate that the 25-year-old has agreed a £130,000-a-week deal to join Manchester United, his current employers are desperate to keep him involved for at least another 24 hours before he heads to the UK to seal his dream move.

The Portuguese midfielder is due to be in the stands at Anfield on Sunday as United take on Liverpool as his agent, Jorge Mendes, continues to get the transfer over the line. Mendes was at Old Trafford on Wednesday to see United beat Wolves in an FA Cup third-round replay, but it’s also understood that Sporting and the Red Devils are still yet to come to an agreement on the transfer fee.

Fernandes has netted eight times and grabbed seven assists in his 15 Liga NOS matches so far this season and United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer sees him as the player who can be the link man between midfield and attack.