Paul Merson thinks Manchester United would have already signed Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon if Sir Alex Ferguson was still in charge at Old Trafford.

Fernandes has been heavily linked with a move to Man Utd this month but it isn’t clear how close the Red Devils are to signing the midfielder.

A fresh report from Portugal claimed today that there has been a complete collapse of negotiations between the two clubs over valuation – but it is possible that talks could be reinvigorated before the end of January.

And Merson says that no player is prepared to “kick up a fuss” in order to force a move to Man Utd anymore and adds that a deal would already be done in Ferguson‘s days.

“For me, this didn’t happen when Sir Alex Ferguson was in charge,” Merson said on Sky Sports’ The Debate.

“If they wanted a player, they went and got that player and it was done.

“This is the problem you have now at Manchester United, even for me they’re the greatest club in the world. They’re not that high anymore.

“Look at Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Man City, and they have to fight for a player now. They may have to pay over the top.

“Before they might say ‘right, I want to pay £30million for a player’ and the player would kick up a fuss because he wanted to go to Manchester United. That’s not the case anymore.”