The Red Devils are at risk of losing their captain, but they already have set their sights on another Portuguese gem to possibly fill the void. Read on for our round-up of some of the juiciest transfer gossip this Monday.
Al-Hilal confident of signing Fernandes
Al-Hilal have been hot on Bruno Fernandes' heels for some time now, and it appears they are close to finding a breakthrough in their pursuit of a marquee signing before the Club World Cup.
Journalist Ben Jacobs claims the Saudi Arabia giants believe an agreement with Fernandes is “close after a week of positive meetings.” The Portuguese midfielder has until Friday to accept Al-Hilal's proposal. United are yet to be approached but the Riyadh club think a sale will be sanctioned if the club's captain asks to depart Old Trafford. Whispers Rating: 3.5/5
Find more Saudi Pro League transfer gossip right here.
Man Utd identify Fernandes' replacement
United's desire is to keep hold of Fernandes but a purported £100million deal could greatly boost their transfer budget and help Ruben Amorim find his ideal replacement as well as address other areas of the pitch.
According to the Mirror, United are lining up Sporting CP star Pedro Goncalves as a replacement for Fernandes, whose exit would give the Red Devils finances to meet Goncalves'£70million price tag. Amorim is well aware of the 26-year-old's attacking prowess, as he played a key role in Sporting's title win in 2021 under his tutelage. Whispers Rating: 3/5
Get the lowdown on every Man Utd Transfer Target on Football Whispers.
Leverkusen eyeing Liverpool pair
Bayer Leverkusen are also inching towards losing their creator-in-chief, Florian Wirtz, who is pushing to join Liverpool in a record transfer this summer. However, it is not going to be easy for the Reds to meet Leverkusen's asking price, believed to be in the region of £120million for Wirtz.
Accordingly, Sky Sport Germany suggests the Bundesliga giants are considering including Harvey Elliott or Jarell Quansah as part of the deal for Wirtz. Both Elliott and Quansah have shown promise but have been handed limited minutes by Arne Slot. Elliot, in particular, is likely to struggle even more following the high-profile arrival of the Germany international. Whispers Rating: 3/5
Find more Bayer Leverkusen transfer gossip right here.
Brentford secure Flekken's successor
With Wirtz's exit yet to be finalised, Erik ten Hag prioritised strengthening Leverkusen's goalkeeping department with the signing of Mark Flekken from Brentford. Meanwhile, the Bees took little time to strike a deal for his replacement.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reveals Brentford have agreed a deal with Liverpool to sign Caoimhin Kelleher for a fee in the region of £18million, including add-ons. The Irish goalkeeper earned plenty of plaudits for shielding the Merseyside outfit's net in the absence of Alisson Becker but Kelleher wasn't happy playing second fiddle at Anfield. Whispers Rating: 5/5
Get the lowdown on every Brentford Transfer Target on Football Whispers.
Forest plotting ambitious swoop for Botafogo trio
Nottingham Forest's gamble on the relatively unknown Corinthians defender Murillo in 2023 has worked wonders for the club, so much so that they are set to aggressively raid the Brazilian transfer market for three new signings.
According to The Athletic, Forest are close to agreeing a deal with Botafogo for striker Igor Jesus, left-back Cuiabano, and centre-back Jair Cunha. Cuiabiano, in particular, is a very highly-rated full-back, known for his intensity and physicality. Brighton & Hove Albion also showed interest in him in May. Whispers Rating: 3.5/5
Find more Nottingham Forest transfer gossip right here.
