Manchester United have confirmed they have reached an agreement to sign Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes. United agreed a deal worth up to £68m with the Portuguese club, before the Portugal international flew into Manchester on Wednesday evening to complete the move. Fernandes’ move is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. The two clubs have been negotiating throughout the transfer window with a breakthrough made on Tuesday amid reports of interest from Barcelona.

“I’m delighted that we’ve agreed [the deal] with Sporting,” said United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. “There have been good negotiations with the club and we know, through history, these two clubs have been good with each other. “Now we’ve reached that agreement, hopefully we can get the boy’s contract over the line and the medical done and then, hopefully we can announce it.” United, linked with the 25-year-old last summer, initially refused to meet Sporting’s demand for 80m euros up front. For the Portuguese club to receive the full amount, a series of conditions must be met – including United’s qualification for the Champions League. United would pay an additional 5m euros  if they achieve Champions League qualification, with a further 5m euros subject to player participation. The remaining payment of 15m euros  is based on individual player prizes. Fernandes joined Sporting from Sampdoria for £7.2m in 2017 and has gone on to score 64 goals in 137 matches in all competitions, winning the Portuguese Cup with Sporting in 2018-19. He has played 19 times for Portugal and was a member of the squad that won the UEFA Nations League.