Less than a week to go until the winter transfer window shuts and there is still no clarity over Bruno Fernandes' future.

Some say that the Red Devils have already switched their attention elsewhere, but the reality is that his club, Sporting Lisbon, are still negotiating a possible transfer of the Portuguese international to Old Trafford.

This is already a long soap opera, which started in 2019. So why hasn't there been an agreement yet? Especially because both Manchester United and Sporting have not spoken directly since the beginning of this novel.

It all started when United wanted to know about the possibility of buying Bruno Fernandes in 2019. To do so, they contacted their representatives, who revealed to the Red Devils that for 50 million euros (£42million) the deal could be closed. Sporting, according to the Bruno Fernandes' entourage, were under pressure to sell, as they urgently needed money, so the 50 million, plus some bonuses, would be enough.

United welcomed this information. A top player for a reasonable price. However, everything changed on January 10, when Manchester United and Sporting finally joined the same table, in London, at Ed Woodward's office. At that meeting, Sporting president Frederico Varandas presented figures totally different from those that Bruno Fernandes' representatives spoke to Manchester United. The Portuguese club started demanding 75 million euros (£63m): 60, plus 15 in bonuses and bonuses that had to be easy to achieve.

United did not like the approach, as they felt cheated, as the values were much higher. The quality of Bruno Fernandes was not an issue, but the leaders of the Red Devils do not want to feel deceived.

Fernandes, however, was and is a wish of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, so United agreed to remain at the negotiating table, but, at least so far, they always been peremptory in the fixed value: 50 million. They were willing to give bonuses, a total of 10 million, but they were too complicated to achieve.

Sporting said no. And why did they say no, since they need money urgently? Simply because they used FIFA agent Jorge Mendes. The well-known businessman spoke to United and tried to use the conditions so the Red Devils would increase the offer, but saw that there was intransigence to to the deal like Sporting wanted.

Mendes, however, insisted on reassuring Sporting, who really need the money. The FIFA agent assured the club of Alvalade that in June, Fernandes's proposals will be higher, as he had already done in August 2019, when Bruno Fernandes' transfer to Tottenham fell through.

In short, five days before the end of the transfer window, the departure of the 25-year-old midfielder for United is still not a reality due to the 'pride' of the Red Devils and because Sporting were guaranteed to sell the Portuguese international for a value close to that they really always wanted, 70 million, in June.

This, however, does not mean that the transfer has fallen through. The reality is that both Sporting and Manchester United are still negotiating. The business has been shaken, that is a fact, but it is on the table. It remains to be seen who or if someone will give in during these next six days.