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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

According to Correio da Manha, via Sport Witness, Manchester United are still very much in the hunt to sign Sporting Lisbon attacker Bruno Fernandes.

What's the word, then?

United have been linked with a move for the Portugal international throughout this summer's transfer window, but a recent report claimed that the Red Devils were unlikely to sign him ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

According to Correio da Manha, though, United are preparing to submit an offer to Sporting next week as they look to complete a move.

The 24-year-old scored 32 times and registered 18 assists in 53 appearances for Sporting during the 2018-19 season.

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The club captain - valued at £49.5m by Transfermarkt - largely operated as an attacking midfielder, but also played as a second striker as he managed 20 goals in the Liga NOS.

It remains to be seen whether United complete a deal for Fernandes, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's pre-season formation has shown that there is a spot seemingly ready and waiting for the Portuguese.

A move to a 4-2-3-1...

United have started in a 4-2-3-1 formation in all four of their friendly matches this summer.

And the set up has worked well with victories over Perth Glory, Leeds United, Inter Milan and Tottenham Hotspur as the team prepare for the new campaign.

Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Andreas Pereira have all started as the number 10 during pre-season and whilst all three have had their moments, there is no question that Fernandes would provide a bigger goal threat from that area of the field. Indeed, the trio managed just 12 goals between them last term.

If the Red Devils do manage to keep hold of Paul Pogba and play the Frenchman in a midfield two then suddenly things could be looking up for the team.

Indeed, much of Solskjaer's work during pre-season has involved high pressing and counter-attacking football, but Mata showed against Leeds that the team still need that player capable of taking the ball under pressure and feeding the likes of Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

Fernandes is seemingly ready-made to step into the number 10 position for the English giants, who simply cannot afford to pass up the chance to sign the talented playmaker.

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