Manchester United are reportedly closing in on the signing of Bruno Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon having finally made a significant breakthrough in negotiations for the long-time target.
United's pursuit of the 25-year-old has dominated much of the January transfer window, having also been a running saga throughout the summer, with the two clubs reaching an impasse over the fee.
Sporting were understood to be demanding €80m (£68m) for their skipper - a figure United were previously unwilling to meet - but BBC Sport claims that the Red Devils are now confident of completing a deal.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side will reportedly pay an initial fee of around €55m (£47m), although that figure could rise to the £68m asking price after add-ons.
The news comes just hours after Barcelona were thought to have entered the race for Fernandes, with the Spanish champions reportedly then planning to loan him to Valencia in an effort to aid their chances of signing Rodrigo Moreno.
The Portugal international has been named the Primeira Liga's player of the year in each of the last two seasons and has continued his fine form into the current campaign, scoring eight goals and creating seven more in 17 league appearances.
Should the deal go through then Fernandes, who has scored 64 goals in 137 matches for Sporting overall, would become the most expensive Premier League signing of the January transfer window so far.
Barney Corkhill
