Tottenham Offered Chance to Hijack Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes Move

​Manchester United are close to signing of Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes, but a rival Premier League side believed to be Tottenham has now entered the race, with the Lisbon club's officials travelling to London to hear their proposal. 

Fernandes was heavily linked with a move away from the Portuguese side in the summer, after a breathtaking 2018/19 season, scoring 20 times and providing 13 assists in just 33 league appearances. 

This season, he has continued to shine, bagging six goals and providing seven assists in Sporting's opening 14 Primeira Liga matches. 

Fernandes has been a longstanding target for United, but a deal failed to materialise in the summer. However, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Mike Phelan ​recently travelled to scout the player, while it was ​also revealed that Sporting's club president Frederico Varandes and vice-president Hugo Viana travelled to the United offices in Manchester on Friday to negotiate a transfer.

​The Red Devils are now finally believed to be ​closing in on the signing of Fernandes after holding 'meaningful' discussions. And while beIN Sports presenter Matt Critchley has confirmed this, he has also claimed that another team has now entered the race for his signature, with the Portuguese side's officials travelling to listen to their proposal. 

Speaking ahead of United's clash with Norwich on Saturday, Critchley told ​beIN Sports: "A deal is close to being agreed [with Manchester United]. 

"What's maybe complicated the issue, to my understanding, Sporting's officials are now in London, and possibly another Premier League club, most likely ​Tottenham, are also in the hunt for Bruno Fernandes.

"And so, the Sporting officials want to hear what they've got to say, whether they're prepared to offer any more money, and whether any separate deal with another Premier League club can be done and then they can, of course, play the two Premier League clubs off against each other.

"Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United is probably close...it is not a done deal just yet."

United are in desperate need of midfield reinforcements, but they will now face late competition for Fernandes' signature. If Spurs are the team that are also keen on the player, this would come as no real surprise, as they looked to land him during the summer, but failed in their efforts.