Manchester United Scout Bruno Fernandes' Former Teammate 8 Times This Season: Report

Manchester United are reportedly interested in Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha ahead of the 2022 summer transfer window.

Manchester United have sent scouts eight times so far this season to watch Palhinha play and make sure if he would be the right fit for the club, reported Portuguese media outlet Record. However, International Business Times could not verify it independently.

Sporting are ready to part ways with the Palhinha and the Red Devils are "attentive" towards the player’s situation at the Lisbon-based club, according to Sports Witness.

Given the success of Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford, Manchester United are hopeful of landing his former teammate at Sporting - Palhinha. Fernandes joined the Red Devils during the 2020 January transfer window and has become a vital member of their squad since then.

The Portuguese club put Palhinha was in the transfer market during the January window but no club came forward with a bid. However, that is going to change in the summer.

Palhinha, who signed a new deal with Sporting last December, is now contracted with the club until 2026. This would give Sporting the leverage to demand a decent asking price for the defensive midfielder.

Palhinha will be available for between $34 million and $45 million ahead of the 2020-23 campaign and the Red Devils are believed to be prepared to pay, according to Teamtalk.

The 26-year-old midfielder rose through the youth ranks at Sporting before making his senior debut in the 2016-17 campaign. On either side of his stints with Sporting’s first teams, he had loan spells with Portuguese clubs Moreirense and Belenenses.

Manchester United are looking to strengthen their midfield in the summer of 2022. The end of the current season will see the 33-year-old Nemaja Matic and Fred entering the final year of their current deals with the Old Trafford side.

Meanwhile, Paul Pogba’s contract with Manchester United is going to expire on July 1. While Pogba has been offered a new deal, the Frenchman has not agreed to any terms and is expected to part ways with the 20-time English top-flight champions.

Along with Pogba, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata are also expected to leave as free agents in the 2022 summer.

Manchester United are fourth in the 2021-22 Premier League table with 47 points after 27 matches. While the Red Devils are not in the title race, they are very much alive in the Champions League. They drew 1-1 at Atletico Madrid in their Round of 16 first leg and the return leg at Old Trafford is scheduled to happen on March 15.