Manchester United finally realised on Tuesday that theirs was not the only offer open to Sporting Lisbon; or to the club’s best footballer, Bruno Fernandes. Barcelona, a club with greater revenue and status, were working on a deal that would guarantee Sporting a higher transfer fee and allow the free-scoring midfielder to join a more prestigious club. If United truly wanted to land the Portugal international they would have to put more money on Sporting’s table. In common with United’s long-winded attempt to convince Sporting to accept a guaranteed fee of just €50 million (£42.3 million) for Bruno, Barcelona’s proposal was a complex one, with multiple interested parties shaping the deal. Barça want the midfielder to join them in the summer, when there will be

Source: The Times January 28, 2020 17:15 UTC