Bruno Fernandes' agent has deleted his Twitter account amid speculation Manchester United are closing in on a deal to sign the Sporting Lisbon midfielder.
It is thought the 25-year-old Portugal international could wrap up a move to United this month after Sporting president Frederico Varandas and sporting director Hugo Viana discussed a possible deal with United chiefs.
Sporting captain Fernandes was linked with both United and Tottenham last summer, but the Red Devils appear to have moved ahead in the race to sign him, with the fee expected to be around €70million (£60m).
And amid frenzied speculation that a deal is close, it has emerged that the Twitter account of Fernandes' agent Rui Guimaraes of the Positionnumber group has been deleted.
before the account was suspended, the agent had 'liked' a tweet by Rio Ferdinand, and then 'unliked' it, according to Metro.
United legend Ferdinand had got fans excited when he tweeted the name 'Bruno' complete with 12 Os, an hourglass and a watch, suggesting that it could be a matter of time before Fernandes signs at Old Trafford.
However, the former defender later rowed back slightly from that, tweeting "I’m sitting & waiting like you! Keep refreshing @ManUtd" and replying to fans that he had no inside knowledge.
Meanwhile, Portuguese journalist Filipe Dias, the editor-in-chief of sports daily O Jogo , told Sky Sports that .
"The story so far is that United this time are really closing in on Bruno Fernandes," he said.
"We ran the story that there are talks between the two clubs and we figured that a deal might be close in the next few days, or hours even, because Sporting need money badly.
"The situation has changed since last summer. They didn't accept a deal with Tottenham for €70m but that would have been paid with €40m euros upfront and then another €30m.
"Now Sporting will accept €70m, but paid in instalments. United is a club that Bruno Fernandes really likes in England, it's a club that he really wants to play for.
"Talks have been intensified in the last couple of days, so we're kind of expecting that it might be close."
Attacking midfielder Fernandes has scored six goals in 14 league appearances for Sporting this season, also contributing seven assists.
