Man Utd’s €50m bid for midfielder didn’t even ‘reach the table’

Manchester United’s opening offer for Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes was rejected out of hand, according to reports.

The Red Devils have pursued the Portugal playmaker all summer with a number of enquiries being rebuffed by Sporting.

The Independent reported last Monday that United remain confident of securing the 24-year-old before the start of the new season – though it will cost well in excess of £50million.

Various Portuguese newspapers said last week that United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward is ready to make a bid for the midfielder.

And now A Bola (via Sport Witness) claims that the Red Devils have now made an offer but that their €50m ‘first poll’ didn’t even ‘reach the table’.

The Portuguese outlet adds that there is ‘British talk’ of a new €62m offer but this has yet to reach Sporting.

Representatives of Fernandes are believed to be on their way to England again to try and hike up the price and strike a deal.

It is understood that negotiations are ‘speeding up’ although Sporting are holding out for €70m, while Woodward is aware of a €35m clause in Fernandes’ contract and could use it to ‘exert pressure’.

The €35m clause is explained by our friends at Sport Witness: ‘If a club makes an official offer of €35m or more and it’s rejected, then Bruno’s camp is due €5m plus a hefty pay-rise.

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‘This is only applicable once, United can’t keep offering €35m and seeing Bruno become €5m richer each time.

‘So, in theory, if a club offers €50m officially, and Sporting say no, then they’d be €55m plus a big pay rise down.’