Arsenal and Chelsea are said to be in a race for Sporting CP’s midfielder Bruno Fernandes just a few days after they were supposed to be racing Liverpool even though Manchester United were the dominant name in this transfer rumour.

Sporting's midfielder Bruno Fernandes celebrates a goal during the Portuguese League football match between Sporting Lisbon and Nacional at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on December 16, 2018. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)
Sporting’s midfielder Bruno Fernandes celebrates a goal during the Portuguese League football match between Sporting Lisbon and Nacional at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on December 16, 2018. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP)

Back in April 2018, we reported that Arsenal sent scouts to watch Sporting travel to Belenenses. We speculated that Fernandes could be the target of their interest, but at the time there weren’t any reports to confirm which player Sven Mislintat’s team were after.

Mislintat has obviously now left the club and the rumours linking Arsenal with Fernandes died down. Until this week, that is, when O Jogo reported that the player, who seems destined to move this summer, is wanted by Atletico Madrid, Milan, Juventus, Arsenal and Chelsea.

However, the 24-year-old has a €100m release clause, and while Sporting might sell him for well below that fee it still seems too rich for Arsenal’s tastes this summer. His latest contract, according to Sport Witness, has a clause that states the Portuguese club must accept all bids above €35m for him.