Manchester United have agreed a deal worth up to 80mn euros (£67mn, $88mn) to sign Portuguese international midfielder Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.
Fernandes, 25, has been linked with a move to Old Trafford for many months, but United were previously unwilling to meet Sporting’s valuation. Sporting confirmed the deal is worth an initial fee of 55mn euros with another 25mn euros in performance-related add-ons.
The add-ons include 5mn related to appearances, 5mn dependant on United qualifying for the Champions League and 15mn on Fernandes winning individual awards. United are badly in need of midfield reinforcements due to long-term injuries to Paul Pogba and Scott McTominay, while a back injury to Marcus Rashford has also left Ole Gunnar Solskjaer short of options in attack.
Fernandes offers a goal threat, having scored 63 goals in 137 appearances for Sporting since returning to his homeland after spells with Udinese and Sampdoria in Italy. He was also part of the Portugal side that won the inaugural Nations League in June and has scored twice in 19 international caps.
United lie fifth in the Premier League, a massive 33 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool and six points adrift of the Champions League places. Their chances of a top-four finish will depend greatly on how they fare in their next two league games at home to Wolves on Saturday and then away to fourth-placed Chelsea on February 17.
Arsenal sign Mari on loan
for the rest of the season
Arsenal have signed Spanish defender Pablo Mari on loan for the rest of the season with an option to buy at the end of the campaign, the Premier League club announced yesterday.
The 26-year-old joins from Brazilian side Flamengo, where he helped the Rio de Janeiro-based team win the Brazilian title and the Copa Libertadores last year. Mari joined Flamengo last July from Manchester City, where he had been since 2016.
Tottenham sign PSV Eindhoven winger Steven Bergwijn
Tottenham announced the signing of Dutch international Steven Bergwijn from PSV Eindhoven for an undisclosed fee. He became Jose Mourinho’s second permanent signing of the transfer window after the north London club converted Giovani Lo Celso’s loan move into a full-time deal.
Last season’s beaten Champions League finalists have also added Benfica midfielder Gedson Fernandes on loan, while Christian Eriksen, who previously wore the number 23 shirt, has departed for Inter Milan.
With Harry Kane injured, Mourinho was keen to bolster his attack as he targets a Champions League qualification spot. Spurs are sixth in the Premier League table, six points behind fourth-placed London rivals Chelsea.
Meanwhile, Southampton completed the loan signing of Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker-Peters until the end of the season. The 22-year-old has made 24 first-team appearances for Spurs, but has only featured once since Mourinho took charge in November.
A run of seven wins in 11 games has propelled Southampton up to ninth in the Premier League table, just three points adrift of Spurs in sixth.
Injured Felix to
miss Madrid derby
Atletico Madrid said that Joao Felix has sustained a muscle injury, meaning the striker is likely to miss Saturday’s city derby against Real Madrid. Felix’s absence could persuade Atletico to accelerate their pursuit of Edinson Cavani, who is keen to leave Paris Saint-Germain this month if the clubs can agree a fee.
Atletico confirmed in a statement that Felix was injured during last weekend’s goalless draw with Leganes in La Liga. Felix left Benfica for 126mn euros last summer but has only shown glimpses of his talent this season in an underperforming Atletico team. The 20-year-old has scored four goals in 24 appearances.
His injury means Diego Simeone is likely to start with Alvaro Morata and Angel Correa up front against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Atletico will be looking for their first win in five games.
A poor run has seen them lose on penalties to Real in the Spanish Super Cup final and crash out of the Copa del Rey to third tier Cultural Leonesa. They have also slipped to fifth in La Liga, 10 points adrift of leaders Real.
from Gulf Times https://ift.tt/2t88VrL
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