Ruben Amorim will dip a £ 70 million for Pedro Goncalves – when Bruno Fernandes goes to Saudi Arabia.
But the hope of Manchester United to land the sporty Lisbon Prize Guy could be called in if the Portuguese club first sells Viktor Gyokees.
United Skipper Fernandes has until Friday to tell Al-Hilal if he is ready for a move to the Middle East, and the Saudis are ready to pay £ 100 million when they get the thumb up.
And if Fernandes takes the dive for a three-year-old deal, the cash-kicked Reds can afford goncalves-also known as POE with money.
Manager Amorim would still prefer to keep his captain and insisted that he was sure that after the journey after the season he had this to Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
But he is equally aware that a salary of more than £ 1 million a week is enormously tempting to Fernandes.
And the Old Trafford Money men know they will hit the jackpot by banking such a fee for a man who turns 31 per month in the following season.
Goncalves, 26, had two years at Wolves for two years, but returned to Portugal without playing a game.
Amorim took him to Lisbon from Famalicao six years ago and transformed him into a more attacking midfielder who can also play wide.
Goncalves, who gave 23 goals because Sporting ended in a 19-year title Drought in 2021, missed five months of last season with a torn thigh muscle.
But he returned in April and scored in the last day victory at Vitoria, who again achieved the Portuguese championship.
Goncalves is also on the wish list of Aston Villa, but United believes that his relationship with Amorim places them in pole position.
The biggest stumbling block could arise if Arsenal or Napoli could close an early deal for £ 67 million striker Gyokeres, because sport would not be willing to cash in two of their stars.
But the Portuguese side will land a £ 5 million-plus jackpot like Fernandes to the Middle East, thanks to a clause that gives them ten percent of the profit that United makes at their skipper.