Why Man Utd suspended Bruno Fernandes' transfer talks – allowing Tottenham to eclipse

Manchester United will face Bruno Fernandes in the coming days, after Tottenham has decided to sign the Portuguese international.

In a deadlock with Real Betis on the first transfer target of Mauricio Pochettino, Giovani Lo Celso, the Spurs turned to Fernandes.

The midfielder, 24, was strongly linked to the move to Old Trafford.

He participated in an outstanding campaign in Lisbon last season, collecting 23 times from the midfield for club and country.

The Spurs had already had talks with the player's agent, Miguel Pinho, in June.

But it was United who appeared Fernandes' most likely contenders.

Earlier this week, Sporting coach Marcel Keizer admitted Fernandes' departure was a strong possibility.

"We'll see if we can keep our players, then we'll see what we do."

"I hope that it [Fernandes] remains, of course, like everyone else at Sporting, but we do not know it. "

However, the Red Devils still have not reached an agreement; indeed, despite the discussions, they still have to submit an offer.

Instead, they gave priority to the movements of Leicester defender Harry Maguire and, after their arrival on the market, Juventus striker Paulo Dybala.

While Sporting intended to retain Fernandes until the end of the Portuguese Super Cup against Benfica on Saturday, this situation seemed to suit all parties – apparently with the US leaders planning to reach an agreement next week.

But the arrival of Tottenham on the scene complicated things.

The North London Club has sent two senior officials to Lisbon to try to finalize an agreement.

United Ole boss Gunnar Solskjaer spoke Thursday on the window of transfers.

And he said the Premier League's decision to close the window next week would not be helpful.

"I think we picked up the short straw," the Norwegian told Sky Sports News.

"When we finish and our league starts, there will still be three weeks left with clubs touring around your players, I do not think that's good for us, no."

Solskjaer said: "We have worked on a few cases during the summer, it is never easy, but the club has been good but the market is very difficult.

"We are trying to get into the start of the season with the team we want."