RUBEN AMORIM will make a £70million swoop for Pedro Goncalves – if Bruno Fernandes heads for Saudi Arabia.
But Manchester United’s hopes of landing the Sporting Lisbon prize guy could be scuppered if the Portuguese club sell Viktor Gyokeres first.
United skipper Fernandes has until Friday to tell Al-Hilal if he is up for a move to the Middle East, and the Saudis are ready to pay £100m if they get the thumbs up.
And if Fernandes does take the plunge on a three-year deal, the cash-strapped Reds could afford Goncalves – also known as Pote – with money to spare.
Manager Amorim would still prefer to keep his captain, and insisted he was confident of doing so after United’s post-season trip to Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
But he is equally aware that a salary of more than £1m a WEEK is hugely tempting for Fernandes.
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And the Old Trafford money men know they will hit the jackpot by banking such a fee for a man who turns 31 a month into next season.
Goncalves, 26, had two years at Wolves as a teenager, but returned to Portugal without playing a game.
Amorim took him to Lisbon from Famalicao six years ago, transforming him into a more attacking midfielder who can also play wide.
Goncalves, who hit 23 goals as Sporting ended a 19-year title drought in 2021, missed five months of last season with a ruptured thigh muscle.
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But he returned in April and scored in the final day victory over Vitoria which clinched the Portuguese championship again.
Goncalves is also on Aston Villa’s wish list, but United believe his relationship with Amorim puts them in pole position.
The biggest stumbling block could arise if Arsenal or Napoli can seal an early deal for £67m-rated striker Gyokeres, as Sporting would be unwilling to cash in on two of their star men.
But the Portuguese side will land a £5m-plus jackpot if Fernandes heads to the Middle East, thanks to a clause giving them ten percent of any profit United make on their skipper.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
