Former Manchester United target Bruno Fernandes could be set to join European rivals instead

Bruno Fernandes

Sporting CP midfielder Bruno Fernandes is set to sign for Real Madrid (opens in new tab) in a £63m deal, according to Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade.

The Portugal international was heavily linked with Tottenham (opens in new tab) and Manchester United (opens in new tab) before the Premier League transfer window closed earlier this month.

And Fernandes could now move to the Santiago Bernabeu instead, with European clubs having until Monday to complete their transfer business.

That is the view of Prade, who told Corriere dello Sport (opens in new tab) that he expects a deal to go through in the next 48 hours.

The Fiorentina supremo has been in talks with Sporting over a potential move for midfielder Raphinha.

And Prade let slip that Fernandes, who scored 31 goals in all competitions last term, is on his way to Madrid.

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Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).