Manchester United transfer target Bruno Fernandes has 'surprised' former Old Trafford chief Jose Mourinho.
The Red Devils are reportedly preparing a £62million bid for the Sporting Lisbon star, who has smashed 29 goals in 48 games this season, chipping in with 18 assists.
Fernandes, 24, has also caught the attention of Manchester City , but United are trying to steal a march on their rivals.
Mourinho told Eleven Sports: "I was surprised by the season of Bruno Fernandes. It was easy to predict quality, he is a very good player, but scored a very high number of goals for a midfield player.
"It shows that you need to have instinct and qualities to score and he has it all. He strikes the ball well, heads well, cool when he is one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
"He finds space in the penalty area. It’s all there."
Meanwhile, the attacking midfielder says he doesn't know exactly what the future holds for him at this moment in time, and claims he won't be swayed by earning more money.
"I honestly don't know," Fernandes told Portuguese TV channel SIC, when asked to clarify his future. "I like to focus on things once the season is over, when I can think with calmness.
"The financial aspect always weights a lot, we have a short career. But staying here, I will always be able to raise money, it's not a financial issue.
"It's a matter of having dreams left to realise. It's a difficult choice, we never know what's going to happen. My connection to Sporting is very strong and it was even stronger after the events [in Alcochete] and having come back [to Sporting].
"It meant a lot to me how I was received, I'm close to home, I have my family, my daughter can grow up more easily at school, but there are dreams to be fulfilled in my head and which I would like to achieve.
"It hurts a lot to hear people say 'stay' and I do not know the future. Especially after the [Portuguese] Cup final, when I went up the stairs [to collect the Cup], a lot of people asked me to stay. Those same people last year were crying out of sorrow and it was different to now see them crying with joy."
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