Manchester United attempt to use Hearts goalkeeper to sign €75m midfielder - reports

Joel Pereira was reportedly used as part of a cash-plus-player exchange for Bruno Fernandes
Joel Pereira was used as a makeweight in a transfer bid by Manchester United. Picture: SNSJoel Pereira was used as a makeweight in a transfer bid by Manchester United. Picture: SNS
Joel Pereira was used as a makeweight in a transfer bid by Manchester United. Picture: SNS

Manchester United are hoping to complete the signing of Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Club this month.

An offer from the English giants saw them included Hearts goalkeeper Joel Pereira, plus two other players, as a makeweight to try and get the deal across the line.

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The bid, which involved the Tynecastle side's No.1, Angel Gomes and Marcos Rojo, has been rejected, according to reports, with Sporting wanting £65million for the 25-year-old.

Pereira, who was born in Switzerland, has 16 caps for the Portuguese U21 side.

He is on his fifth loan spell since joining Manchester United in 2012. The 23-year-old has made 18 appearances for Hearts following his arrival in August to provide extra competition to Zdenek Zlamal and Colin Doyle.

Since Daniel Stendel took over from Craig Levein, Pereira, who is contracted to Manchester United until the end of the season, has played the last four games after starting on the bench in the German's first match.

Stendel has targeted five new signings this month but the goalkeeper position is seen as a "slender possibility" with outfield areas a more pressing priority.