Tottenham and Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes hopes still alive despite new contract

Bruno Fernandes

The Portugal international was heavily linked with a switch to the Premier League throughout the summer, with Spurs and Manchester United among his reported suitors.

But he stayed put in Lisbon and this week put pen to paper on a new deal until 2023.

However, the Mail Online reports that nothing has changed regarding the prospect of Fernandes moving on.

The new contract still has a release clause of €100 million, but he has agreed fresh terms that make him the club’s highest earner on €2m per season.

Sporting came to an agreement with the 25-year-old last year that if offers of over €35m were rejected, they would have to fork out €5m to the player and his agent.

The new contract was a way of the club managing to fulfil that promise without handing out a lump sum, which they couldn’t afford.

But Fernandes remains willing to leave the club as early as January and a bid of €70m could be enough to secure his signature.

Although the attacking midfielder has a release clause of €100m, Sporting have agreed with Fernandes that they will accept €70m.

Over the summer, Spurs made a bid worth €70m including bonuses, but it was turned down.

New Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho is a fan of his compatriot and is interested in adding him to the squad in north London.

Fernandes is said to prefer a move to Spurs over United, who have retained an interest, but the financial offers tabled by the clubs could be decisive.

The Premier League sides could face competition from Real Madrid, although the Spaniards are likely to wait until the summer to make a move.

Fernandes has continued his excellent form this season, with 11 goals and eight assists in 18 appearances across all competitions. 

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Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio.