Manchester United are prepared to walk away from their interest in Bruno Fernandes unless Sporting lower their €80m (£68m) asking price.
Sporting are proposing a deal which would see United pay €65m up front and a further €15m in add-ons.
But United are unwilling to meet that valuation of a player who was touted as a €45m prospect for Tottenham Hotspur last summer.
Fernandes is eager to join United and talks continue between the two clubs, though United are threatening to look elsewhere if Sporting do not lower their demands.
United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is in need of midfield additions after losing both Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay to lengthy injuries.
But United’s preference this month has always been to explore short-term options, with signings of Fernandes’ cost and calibre only completed if the price is right.
United’s focus is on the summer market and there is a reluctance to block or complicate moves which could be made further down the line.
Fernandes was unable to prevent Sporting’s 2-0 Lisbon derby defeat to Benfica on Friday night, playing 90 minutes in a game many believed would be his farewell.
Silas, the Sporting manager, said after the defeat that he hoped Fernandes would play for the club again but admitted he wants to leave.
“We will try to keep him for more games, but it is not up to us,” he said. “We understand the ambition of the player, who prefers to play in a league superior to ours.
“There has been talk about the English league, but who wouldn’t like to play there? Bruno deserves everything.”
