Bruno Fernandes: Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer remains coy on transfer target

Solskjaer reportedly watched Sporting defeat to Porto on Sunday

Mark Critchley
Northern Football Correspondent
Friday 10 January 2020 12:10 GMT
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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer: United still have something to hang onto

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Ole Gunnar Solskjaer refused to be drawn on speculation linking Manchester United with Sporting midfielder Bruno Fernandes, despite his recent trip to Portugal to watch the player.

Reports in Portugal on Friday claimed that Solskjaer and assistant Mike Phelan were in attendance at Sporting’s 2-1 home defeat to Porto on Sunday.

Solskjaer is understood to have travelled to Lisbon and United were widely linked with Fernandes last summer, though senior sources distanced themselves the 25-year-old.

The United manager did not deny that he had watched Fernandes when asked on Friday morning, but suggested that there would be no incomings or outgoings this month.

“We go back to speculations and we do go and watch games all the time," Solskjaer said.

“When I've been and where I've been is irrelevant. [Fernandes] is another player in a different club I can't speak about.”

On the prospect of new signings this month, Solskjaer added: “We've still got the same thoughts we had a month ago.

“We’ve got the players we have, working with the ones we have and if something happens we'll tell you. I can't say yes or no but wouldn't expect many ins and outs.”

United are assessing a number of midfield options, with the likes of Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay currently sidelined.

James Maddison, Jack Grealish and Donny van de Beek are among those who have been considered but United accept business is difficult to complete in the winter window.

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