Manchester United are now just €5m (£4.2m) apart in their negotiations to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes, according to the Times (via Metro.co.uk).

The newspaper claims that the Red Devils tabled an improved €55m (£46.4m) offer (which includes bonuses), but Sporting are adamant that they want €60m (£50.6m) upfront.

It is a climbdown on the €80m (£68m) they initially demanded, with the Portuguese club’s poor financial situation forcing them to lower their asking price, but there could still be another complication in talks.

The Times are reporting that Sporting are expecting an offer from a rival club in the next few days. At this moment, it is not known who this is, but it may spur United to up their offer.

Fernandes was in talks with Tottenham in the summer before a move to London collapsed, and it remains to be seen whether Jose Mourinho’s side have decided to revive their move for the 25-year-old.