According to a report, Manchester United is seeking to sign another player in the mold of Bruno Fernandes, and the deal could result in a record transfer for the player’s current team.

Fernandes joined Manchester United in January 2020 after the Red Devils agreed to pay Sporting Lisbon a starting fee of £47 million for him, with the possibility of additional payments totaling £67.7 million. The attacking midfielder has since made a significant contribution to Man Utd, scoring 60 goals and dishing out 51 assists in 170 club games.

Last season, he was criticized for his underwhelming performance under temporary manager Ralf Rangnick, but Fernandes is now excelling under Rangnick’s successor Erik ten Hag.

In 44 games this season, Fernandes has scored 10 goals and provided 12 assists. He also serves as Man Utd’s skipper when Harry Maguire is absent.

If Man Utd hopes to add to their Carabao Cup victory this season, the Portugal star must be at his best. They are still competing in the Europa League and FA Cup, and they have a fantastic chance of making the Champions League for the following season.

Unquestionably, Fernandes was Man Utd’s best acquisition during the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer period, and it appears that club officials are planning a repeat transfer.

Goncalo Inacio, a 21-year-old center back, is the target of Man Utd’s latest assault on Sporting.

Inacio has made 40 appearances this season across all competitions, and despite his youth, he is already a vital member of Sporting’s first squad.

Man Utd wants the Arsenal-defeating player.

He participated fully as Sporting pulled off an unexpected upset to eliminate Arsenal from the Europa League in the round of 16.

The defender headed the ball past goalkeeper Matt Turner after dodging Gabriel Martinelli from a Sporting corner to score in the first match. It concluded in a 2-2 draw.

Sporting won the second leg’s spot shootout and moved on to the next round thanks to a miraculous Pedro Goncalves goal.

It was revealed a week ago that Man Utd are ‘attentive’ to Inacio’s predicament. They have obviously been pleased by his efforts in both the Europa League and Portugal.

Additionally, Sport Witness has provided two updates on the trade hunt, citing Portuguese publications A Bola and Journal de Noticias.

They claim that in addition to Man Utd, Newcastle United and Paris Saint-Germain are also pursuing Inacio.

Sporting hopes to extend his contract because they are conscious of the rising interest in their player. This is primarily to raise his release option from €45 million (£39.5 million) to €80 million (£70.4 million).

Sporting wants Inacio to leave as their most notable departure if they are obliged to sell him. Additionally, an exit at £70.4 million would surpass Sporting’s previous record selling of Fernandes to Man Utd.

The two-cap international’s reluctance to transfer to Newcastle has improved Man Utd’s prospects of landing him. Man United are therefore the most qualified English side to sign him.

However, PSG are still present, and they must be driven away if Ten Hag is to find his target.

For someone who has never played outside of his home Portugal, £70.4m does seem like a lot. However, Man Utd can defend the move by citing a few former Sporting players who have excelled in the Premier League. Fernandes, Joao Moutinho, Matheus Nunes, Raphinha, and Joao Palhinha are on the roster.