Bruno Fernandes was pictured training with Sporting Lisbon on Monday amid growing interest from Manchester United in the January transfer window.
United are exploring the possibility of signing the Portuguese international before the January 31 deadline as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer looks to bolster his squad at the midway point of the season.
MEN Sport understand United are prepared to make a drastic about-turn on the 25-year-old having previously been 'irritated' by the persistent reports from the Portuguese media in the summer.
Solskjaer's side did not approach Sporting with an offer for Fernandes in the summer but could go ahead with a deal this month following injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay.
Reports in Portugal further fuelled the transfer speculation over the weekend with headlines suggesting Fernandes could be announced as a United player as early as Monday night.
However, they were handed a setback when Sporting posted a picture of Fernandes training with the rest of the first-team on their official website on Monday.
Sporting trained at the Sporting Academy on Monday as they prepared for their derby fixture against Benfica at the weekend. The Portuguese side are set to train again on Tuesday morning, however that session will take place behind closed doors.
Solskjaer is himself set to be asked about the transfer speculation when he holds a press conference on Tuesday morning to preview the upcoming FA Cup third round replay against Wolves.
