The Portugal international was in superb form during the 2018/19 campaign, scoring 25 goals in 40 games across all competitions.
Sky Sports News claims that United have targeted the 24-year-old as a reinforcement for their midfield after losing Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera over the last six months.
Fernandes’s agent is said to have travelled to the UK on Wednesday to find out what options are available to his client, but the Lisbon-based club have set a price tag of at least £50 million.
The former Sampdoria player agreed a new five-year contract last summer with a release clause of £31 million, but if a club meets that fee and Sporting refuse to sell, Fernandes is due a payment of £4.5 million.
Sporting president Frederico Varandas is said to want the biggest transfer fee the club has ever received for his star midfielder.
Read more...
Quiz! Can you name the 60 most expensive player transfers ever?
Transfers 11 players who re-joined their former clubs for (much) more money
‘He instantly popped into our ratings as one of the best U21 midfielders in Europe. The impressive thing is Slot has made him into more of a no.6' Inside Ryan Gravenberch's transformation at Liverpool
‘I don’t think Liverpool would look at Ollie Watkins, a striker isn’t a pressing issue for them – it’s Arsenal who need one’ Former Reds star explains why his old club don’t need an out-and-out forward this summer
