Fernandes flies in to seal £68m move

BRUNO FERNANDES checked into the Lowry Hotel last night as he prepared to complete his £67.8million move to Manchester United today. The Portugal midfielder took a flight to Manchester as soon as United and Sporting Lisbon put the final touches to the transfer that will cost the Premier League club an initial £46.6m plus up to £21.2m in add-ons. The 25-year-old will have a medical today and could be available to make his debut against Wolves at Old Trafford on Saturday before United take a 16-day winter break that includes a training camp in Marbella. The club officially confirmed yesterday that terms had been agreed with Sporting, who once sold Cristiano Ronaldo to United for £12.24m. Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer welcomed the end of the protracted transfer saga, saying: ‘I’m delighted we’ve agreed. There have been good negotiations with Sporting and we know, through history, these two wo clubs have been good with each h other. Now we’ve reached that agreement, hopefully we can get the boy’s contract over the line and the medical done and then hopefully we can announce that we’ve got the deal through — it’s very exciting.’ The player’s agent Miguel Ruben n Pinho posted a photo of them on n the plane in Lisbon (right) and Fernandes d shared a picture of himself arriving in Manchester with his partner Ana Pinho and their daughter Matilde. Sporting wished

Fernandes good luck, tweeting: ‘Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them. Good luck and thank you, captain.’ It’s understood und that the add-ons include inclu £4.25m if United qualify for the Champions League, another an £4.25m based on appearances and £12.7m if individual targets are met. United are set to make another signing before the transfer tr window closes tomorrow to after Southend goalkeeper goa Nathan Bishop had a medical medica at Carrington yesterday. Bishop, Bi h 20, 20 will sign a three-year deal after United accelerated negotiations over the last 48 hours amid rival interest from Tottenham, West Ham and Crystal Palace.