Man Utd Ahead Of Others In Race To Sign €100m Chelsea Target

Three-time European champions Manchester United are the front-runners in the keenly contested race to sign Manuel Fernandes this summer.

Manuel Fernandes plays his club football for Portuguese Super League giants Sporting Lisbon at the moment.

The Portugal national team player has been in very good form for Sporting Lisbon which has not gone unnoticed with the major European clubs including Chelsea.

According to the publication from Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Manchester United are the favourites to sign Manuel Fernandes ahead of the chasing pack.

• Chelsea Must Pay €100m For Sporting Lisbon Star

It was also revealed that interested clubs will have to pay his €100m release clause if they want to prise him away from his current club.

Apart from Manchester United and Chelsea, major European sides like Liverpool and seven-time European champions AC Milan are also keen on his transfer.

Manuel Fernandes has been linked with a move to Chelsea dating back to the end of last year.

The 24-year-old midfielder was one of the candidates reported to be under consideration to replace Cesc Fabregas when the Spaniard left Chelsea for French Ligue 1 club AS Monaco in January.

Manuel Fernandes, Cagliari midfielder Nicolo Barella and PSG star Leandro Paredes were all mentioned as his replacement but none of the players made the move to England.