Fiorentina sporting director Daniele Prade has claimed that Real Madrid will complete a move for Sporting Lisbon captain Bruno Fernandes before the European transfer window closes on September 2.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Madrid had opened talks with the agent of Fernandes to discuss a swoop for the 24-year-old before the deadline.
According to Prade, his team have been unable to sign Raphinha from Sporting as the Portuguese club are preparing to sell their skipper to Los Blancos in a £63m deal.
"Sporting could be finished in the market because Bruno Fernandes will go to Real Madrid €70m (£63m)," Prade told Corriere dello Sport at the unveiling of new signing Dalbert, who has arrived from Inter Milan.
Both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were strongly linked with moves for the playmaker before the English transfer window closed earlier this month.
Fernandes scored 32 times and contributed 18 assists in 53 appearances for the Lions during the 2018-19 campaign, while he has one goal and four assists in four outings this term.
Matt Law
