Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has reportedly demanded that Ed Woodward completes a deal for Bruno Fernandes by July 1.
The Man Utd boss has given executive vice-chairman Woodward the deadline to sign the Sporting Lisbon midfielder, according to Sport Witness .
United face competition for the 24-year-old from Tottenham , and Solskjaer is keen not to lose out on the player.
Fernandes' agent Miguel Pinho was in England last week to discuss a move to the Premier League for his client.
However United and Spurs are both said to have baulked at the £70m asking price Sporting have set.
Solskjaer wants to persevere with a move for the Portuguese international, and wants Woodward to wrap up a deal in time for Fernandes to begin pre-season training with the rest of the United squad.
Pinho often works from an office in London, and is due to return this coming week for further talks.
Fernandes is said to have a clause in his current deal which states he must be paid a fee of 5 million euros if Sporting reject any bid worth 35 million euros or higher.
United are planning to use this to their advantage by offering somewhere in the region of 50 million euros, knowing that should Sporting reject the bid, they would effectively lose out on 55 million euros.
Fernandes has had a decent season by all accounts, playing a key part in Sporting's campaign, scoring 12 goals in all competitions, as well as featuring in Portugal's UEFA Nations League triumph.
United meanwhile look set to miss out on the signing of Leicester City defender Harry Maguire.
The Red Devils will be pipped to the post by rivals Man City, who are close to sealing an £80 million deal for Maguire - making him the world's most expensive defender.
Solskjaer was hopeful of persuading Maguire on a switch to Old Trafford, but the 26-year-old will opt for a move to City where he will earn a whopping £280k per week salary.
