Manchester City have registered an interest in signing Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes at the end of the season, according to Correio da Manha.

The Portuguese tabloid claims that the Citizens would be keen on snapping up the 25-year-old in the summer if Manchester United fail to secure a deal for the playmaker in the January transfer window.

The Red Devils have been locked in talks with Sporting over the past week as they seek an agreement over a transfer fee, but the Portuguese club’s £68m asking price is proving a major obstacle.

If United do pull out of the deal for Fernandes, City could be waiting in the wings to sign the Portuguese international. Correio da Manha do suggest that the Premier League champions could pay as much as €100m (£85m) for the midfielder but that seems highly unlikely.

It may be the case that agents in Portugal are trying to put the pressure on United by using City’s name to push up the price. Alternatively, there could be some genuine interest, considering David Silva will be leaving the Etihad in the summer.