OLE GUNNAR SOLSKJAER refused to deny rumours he watched Bruno Fernandes play and admits his scouts are always spying on transfer targets.
United pushed to sign Sporting Lisbon skipper Fernandes all summer but were put off by his £60million price tag.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his assistant Mike Phelan reportedly travelled to Lisbon to watch Bruno FernandesCredit: Getty – Contributor
United pushed to sign Sporting Lisbon skipper Fernandes all summer but were put off by his £60m price tagCredit: EPA
However, after injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, Old Trafford bosses are desperately seeking a midfielder.
And Portuguese outlet Record claim Solskjaer and his assistant Mike Phelan travelled to Lisbon to watch Fernandes play against Porto last Sunday.
The United boss remained coy about his scouting trip.
Solskjaer said: “We go back to speculations and do go and watch games all the time, where I’ve been is irrelevant, that’s another player in a different club I can’t speak about.”
The under-fire Norwegian had met with striker Erling Haaland to personally convince the 19-year-old to join United, only for the transfer target to sign with Borussia Dortmund instead.
Reports in Portugal suggest Old Trafford chiefs are ready to work out a deal with Sporting for Fernandes this month.
But the midfielder – who been involved in more goals than any other player in the Portuguese league since his 2017 arrival – signed a new bumper deal at Sporting in the summer that included an £85m release clause.
United have already faced a frustrating start to the winter window, as striker Mario Mandzukic followed Haaland in snubbing Manchester.
English midfield pair James Maddison and Jack Grealish were thought to be transfer priorities for Old Trafford bosses.
But both Leicester and Aston Villa have ruled out their creative stars leaving in the January sales.
United also pulled out of the race for Tottenham contract rebel Christian Eriksen, who looks to be agreeing a deal to sign for Inter Milan on a free transfer next summer.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
