Manchester United's move for Bruno Fernandes is reportedly off after they refused to meet Sporting Lisbon's £68million asking price.

United believe the demands are 'unreasonable' and have elected to break off from negotiations, according to The Sun.

United had been confident of completing a £55m deal for the Portugal midfielder earlier this week.

Manchester United's move for Bruno Fernandes is off after they refused to pay £68million

Fernandes, pictured against Porto, was believed to be on the verge of a big money move

The news will come as a blow for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who wants to strengthen his squad

BRUNO FERNANDES IN 2019-20 Appearances: 27 Goals: 15 Assists: 14 Advertisement

Talks between the two clubs hit an impasse over the weekend, with the Portuguese giants unhappy with the structuring of the deal.

The two clubs have been at loggerheads over the fee, with Sporting holding out for as much as £68m. United are said to have offered £42.5m up-front, with a further £8.5m in add-ons.

Sporting were not satisfied with the add-ons and wanted more of the fee in advance, believing that the 25-year-old midfielder, who stormed off the pitch and pushed a camera after Tuesday night's defeat by Braga, would be unlikely to meet the clauses in the deal.

The Sun claim that co-chairman Joel Glazer has now decided to walk away from the deal as he does not think Fernandes is worth what Sporting are demanding.

United had been hopeful of getting a deal worth £55m done for the Portugal international

Fernandes did not wave to the fans as he marched straight down the tunnel on Tuesday night

The midfielder also pushed a TV camera down as it followed him storming down the tunnel

The Portugal international has scored 15 goals and provided 14 assists in 27 appearances for Sporting this season across all competitions.

Super agent Jorge Mendes threw Fernandes' prospective move to Old Trafford into serious doubt on Wednesday after admitting he 'doesn't know' if he will leave the Portuguese giants this month.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been chasing the attacking midfielder since last summer, but Mendes was not convinced it would get done during the winter window.

When asked if he expected a deal to be completed for the 25-year-old, he said: 'I don't know. If he doesn't leave now, he will leave for sure in the summer because Sporting have already spoken with other clubs.

Jorge Mendes placed serious doubt over Fernandes' prospective move to Manchester United

'Something will happen but I am not sure if now or at the end of the season.'

Portuguese media have followed the potential transfer of Fernandes closely and a report in A Bola on Wednesday suggested that United had made a breakthrough in their pursuit of the midfielder.

It was believed an offer of around £55m had taken the deal forward, but that now no longer seems to be the case as Sporting look to get top dollar for their star man.

When asked about the transfer window, Solskjaer admitted plans to improve the team and add fresh faces are still in place.

'We're looking to strengthen and we know we have to,' he said after Wednesday night's 2-0 home defeat by Burnley.

'We let some players go because we needed to start afresh. We know we need quality and numbers.

'I think everyone can see that these players are being stretched. They are stretched and I have got absolutely no complaints on any of them because they give absolutely everything they've got.'