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Manchester United are growing increasingly confident of signing Sporting Lisbon star Bruno Fernandes in a £60m deal.

United have been tracking the midfielder for 12 months and are in advanced talks with the player's representatives.

Fernandes' agents along with Sporting president Frederico Varandas arrived in London today to hold meetings with United executive vice chairman Ed Woodward at the club's offices in Mayfair.

United had been prepared to wait until the summer to lure Fernandes, 25, to Manchester, but Woodward fears the likes of Barcelona and Juventus could attempt to scupper the deal and wants to sign him this month.

United are also facing a midfield injury crisis, with Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay currently sidelined.

The potential stumbling block could be how much Sporting are willing to sell the Portugal international for, with his valuation having fluctuated during the past three months.

Sporting are also keen on taking at least one United player in the opposite direction, but it remains to be seen if Woodward is willing to agree to this considering how depleted the squad is.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer travelled to Portugal to run the rule over Fernandes last weekend and came back to tell Woodward he wanted him in his side.

Solskjaer has become desperate to add an attacking midfielder to his struggling side and has been linked with moves for James Maddison and Jack Grealish.

(Image: Matthew Peters)

But United know the chances of signing either of these in this month's transfer window are slim to non-existent and have decided to step up their interest in Fernandes.

He has scored 12 goals this season, following on from the 27 he bagged last season to establish himself as one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe.

It is understood United are willing to hand Fernandes a long-term deal worth around £150,000-a-week.

United have also been tracking Holland international Donny van de Beek, but expect the Ajax midfielder to join Real Madrid in the summer.

Fernandes can operate as a box-to-box midfielder or in a more advanced role behind the striker, meaning he could slot into the No.10 position at Old Trafford when Pogba or McTominay return to full fitness.