Barcelona make move for Manchester United target Fernandes

Barcelona are planning to sign Bruno Fernandes from Sporting and loan him straight to Valencia, claims Superdeporte.

The Spanish side are desperately trying to sign Rodrigo Moreno from Valencia in order to find a replacement for Luis Suarez, who is out for three months with a knee injury.

Moreno has a €60m (£50.8m) release clause in his current Valencia deal but Barcelona cannot afford to pay that much.

Barcelona are desperately trying to sell some of their young players to raise cash but are now looking at alternative ways of signing Moreno.

Nelson Semedo had been mooted as a potential makeweight in a transfer to secure Moreno's services.

However, it has now emerged Barcelona are looking to hi-jack Manchester United's transfer for Sporting midfielder Fernandes and send him straight to Valencia on a six-month loan.

Talks between Sporting and United have hit impasse and the Red Devils are now likely to end the January transfer window without making any signings.

It remains to be seen how Barcelona will afford a deal to sign Fernandes, however, with Sporting demanding similar money to what Valencia what for Moreno.

Valencia, meanwhile, have reportedly agreed personal terms with Borussia Dortmund striker Paco Alcacer as they line up Moreno's replacement.

The Valencia striker, who was heavily linked with a move to Atletico Madrid in the summer, has only scored two goals in 18 league appearances this season.

Moreno, 28, has only reached double figures for goals in a single league campaign once in his career (16 in 2017/18).