Al-Hilal hopes to seduce Bruno Fernandes to make the switch to Saudi Arabia and Manchester United are interested in Pedro Goncalves as a potential replacement for their captain
Manchester United sends the attacking midfielder Pedro Gonclaves from Sporting Lisbon in line as a replacement for Saudi -Surid White Bruno Fernandes of £ 100 million. The Reds followed the 26-year-old Portuguese international before Al-Hilal sent shock waves around Old Trafford by indicating that they are willing to pay a fortune for Fernandes.
But if Fernandes decides to accept a three -year contract worth a stunning £ 180 million, then that would give United the finances to meet the £ 70 million valuation of Gonclaves of Sporting.
His arrival would help to alleviate the anger that Ruben Amorim would feel about losing his captain. Fernandes scored 19 goals and offered 20 assists in a struggling team this season, but at the age of 30 he is four years older than Goncalves.
Goncalves plays in a more advanced role than Fernandes after Amorim transformed him into a deadly attacking midfielder who can also play wide when they were together at Sporting.
The United Boss saw its potential for goals in a training camp for the season in 2020 – and was rewarded with 23 goals and for assists in 32 games, because Sporting won the Portuguese title for the first time in 19 years.
Goncalves recently returned from an injury after tearing a thigh muscle in the last game of Amorim as a sports coach in November. He had attracted the attention of Aston Villa and Bayer Leverkusen before he was sidelined.
An extra complication for every deal with Sporting for Goncalves is the speculation about the Swedish striker Viktor Gyoke of the Portuguese club.
Napoli is ready to fight Arsenal for the target machine of £ 67 million appreciated, while Amorim also admires the 26-year-old former Brighton, Swansea and Coventry Forward.
Sports would be reluctant to cash on two of the players who have just helped them to keep the title in the same summer.
Amorim has made it clear that he does not want to lose his skipper, but the prospect to use the money to finance a rebuilding has encouraged his Old Trafford bosses to leave the decision to Fernandes. Al-Hilal has set a Friday Deadline for Fernandes to answer them.
Sporting will redeem again if Fernandes decides to go to the Saudi Pro League after negotiating a reduction of 10 percent of the profit that United makes on the 30-year-old when he left Lisbon for Manchester in a deal in the first instance worth £ 47 million plus add-ons.
That means that the Portuguese club would bank more than £ 6 million if United would close a deal with Al-Hilal.