Manchester United are threatening to abandon their pursuit of Bruno Fernandes because they fear the move will damage Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s summer transfer plans.

United have made it clear they will walk away unless Sporting Lisbon significantly reduce their asking price for the midfielder.

The Old Trafford club are adamant they will not meet the Portuguese club’s valuation of £55million plus £13m in add-ons for the 25-year-old.

Instead they are prepared to pay closer to the £38m Tottenham bid last summer, with performance-related add-ons.

While Solskjaer is still desperate to land Fernandes this month, the fear within the club is that the deal could set a dangerous precedent ahead of a critical summer.

Solskjaer has made James Maddison and Jadon Sancho leading targets at the end of the season, but could see their prices significantly inflate as a result of over-paying for Fernandes.

In Pictures | Manchester United January transfer targets 2020 10 show all In Pictures | Manchester United January transfer targets 2020 1/10 Man Utd transfer targets Old Trafford officials have put together a shortlist for the January 2020 transfer window - here's who makes the cut... AFP via Getty Images 2/10 Donny van de Beek Club: Ajax



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images 3/10 Bruno Fernandes Club: Sporting Lisbon



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



AFP/Getty Images 4/10 Emre Can Club: Juventus



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



REUTERS 5/10 Hakim Ziyech Club: Ajax



Position: Attacking midfielder



Age: 26



Getty Images 6/10 James Maddison Club: Leicester City



Position: Playmaker



Age: 22



REUTERS 7/10 Sean Longstaff Club: Newcastle



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



Getty Images 8/10 Jadon Sancho Club: Borussia Dortmund



Position: Winger



Age: 19



Bongarts/Getty Images 9/10 Moussa Dembele Club: Lyon



Position: Striker



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images 10/10 Jude Bellingham Club: Birmingham City



Position: Midfielder



Age: 16



Getty Images 1/10 Man Utd transfer targets Old Trafford officials have put together a shortlist for the January 2020 transfer window - here's who makes the cut... AFP via Getty Images 2/10 Donny van de Beek Club: Ajax



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images 3/10 Bruno Fernandes Club: Sporting Lisbon



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



AFP/Getty Images 4/10 Emre Can Club: Juventus



Position: Midfielder



Age: 25



REUTERS 5/10 Hakim Ziyech Club: Ajax



Position: Attacking midfielder



Age: 26



Getty Images 6/10 James Maddison Club: Leicester City



Position: Playmaker



Age: 22



REUTERS 7/10 Sean Longstaff Club: Newcastle



Position: Midfielder



Age: 22



Getty Images 8/10 Jadon Sancho Club: Borussia Dortmund



Position: Winger



Age: 19



Bongarts/Getty Images 9/10 Moussa Dembele Club: Lyon



Position: Striker



Age: 22



AFP via Getty Images 10/10 Jude Bellingham Club: Birmingham City



Position: Midfielder



Age: 16



Getty Images

While talks have not completely broken down, the deal is in serious jeopardy, despite claims personal terms had been agreed with the player.