While Manchester United reportedly held talks with Bruno Fernandes this week, two other Portuguese targets made Europe sit up and take notice on Thursday night.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be given more than £200million to spend on revamping his squad this summer, and Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes is on their radar.
United have held talks with Fernandes, who is the top-scoring midfielder in Europe's leagues with 27 goals, reports Portuguese media outlet A Bola via Sport Witness.
Two other Portuguese players United have been tracking are striker Joao Felix and defender Ruben Dias.
They starred in Benfica's 4-2 win over Eintracht Frankfurt on Thursday, with Joao Felix firing in a hat-trick and Ruben Dias also heading in as the Lisbon club took a big step towards the Europa League semi-finals.
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Felix, a graduate of Benfica's youth set-up, is now the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the Europa League at 19 years and 152 days.
If United want to pursue their interest in all three players it is likely to cost them a staggering £250million.
Felix has a £105million release clause, midfielder Fernandes’ buy-out cost is £95million while Dias has a value of £50million.
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Meanwhile, the president of Iraqi club Al-Shorta SC has claimed that United have made a bid for their player Mohanad Ali.
In quotes reported by Sport Witness, Wahab Al-Taei said of the Iraq international: "Manchester United have made an offer for Mohanad Ali, as have Juventus, Benfica and Galatasaray among others.
“But he refuses European offers for personal and family reasons, preferring Al-Ain. We’re trying to convince him to go to Europe.”
However, fans' reactions gave rise to the theory the president might be trying to talk his player up.
One fan tweeted: "He is not even that good. surprised me to see the name of clubs who want to sign him."
Another wrote: "This will be his loss, not anyone else’s. Its a miracle that such big clubs want him."
he is not even that good. surprised me to see the name of clubs who want to sign him.
— Rastynn (@Rastynn) 10 April 2019
This will be his loss, not anyone else’s. Its a miracle that such big clubs want him, his peak is morata.
— Ahmed Nesayef (@nesayef) 11 April 2019
