Manchester United and Fabinho are living a funny situation in the transfer market. Although the rumours of a transfer haven’t exactly been conventional, the club’s fans want the midfielder signed, and now it’s been claimed the player wants the move as well.

That’s what Portuguese newspaper O Jogo is saying today. It’s claimed that after four seasons at the French club, Fabinho’s desire is to leave, and his favourite destination is José Mourinho’s side. Fabinho, 23 years of age, prefers Manchester United above other options.

Although O Jogo makes it clear this information is their own, the rest of the story is compiled from other rumours. Fabinho’s wife liking comments from Man United fans on Instagram (walking in the footsteps of Tamara Gorro, wife of Ezequiel Garay), Monaco demanding €45m for the transfer, and stuff like that.

Now, we know you’d be thinking why on earth is a Portuguese newspaper revealing that a Brazilian player from a French club wants to join an English side.

The journalist who wrote the article is Brazilian. He has previously interviewed the player for O Jogo. He’s also been responsible for pushing the story on social media, helping to create the current bubble.

José Mourinho’s chase for Fabinho has been reported by other Brazilian journalists as well, as back in the last summer window, Globo Esporte claimed the negotiations were ongoing.

It could be that Fabinho fancies the transfer himself, that would be no surprise and makes some sense. This is the summer he’s expected to leave Monaco, and Manchester United would be the sort of move he’s looking for.

Of course, Fabinho wanting the move, plus the idea being a good one, plus a lot of fuss on social media, doesn’t equal Manchester United actually trying to sign him. Although, Mourinho may well get a fuzzy feeling inside if he hears the Brazilian is prioritising a move to Old Trafford.