Man United held talks about signing Geovany Quenda and Ruben Amorim wanted him but the winger is going to Chelsea.
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Quenda is coming to England - but to Chelsea
Quenda is coming to England - but to Chelsea
Manchester United never submitted a bid for Geovany Quenda before Chelsea agreed to sign the winger from Sporting.
Chelsea agreed a fee of £40million for Quenda, 17, and he will join the club in the summer on a maximum seven-year contract.
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United met with the influential agent Jorge Mendes in November as his Gestifute agency was tasked with negotiating on behalf of Quenda and his representative. However, sources say United's interest did not extend beyond informal discussions.
A source familiar with the discussions said United's preference was to wait to sign Quenda and that the mid-season addition of Patrick Dorgu, a fellow left-footed wide player, impacted their interest.
Quenda came to prominence at Sporting under Ruben Amorim, who gave the then-16-year-old his debut. Quenda has been called up to the Portugal squad again for their Nations League double-header against Denmark this month.
United had tracked Quenda since he made his debut for Sporting in August and Amorim wanted to be reunited with the Portuguese in Manchester.
Reports in Portugal claimed United were planning to sign Quenda on transfer deadline day last month but club and agency sources rubbished the claims.
United have started to spend more carefully amid losses of £300m in the past three years and their struggles to comply with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules.
The club is more than £700m in debt and is spending more than £30m a year to service it. United owe nearly £400m in outstanding transfer fees and the failure to qualify for any European competition next season would also impact their summer budget.
Since chief executive Omar Berrada came in, United have not spent more than £60m on any of their seven signings. Centre back Leny Yoro has commanded the highest up-front fee at £52.18m.
United bought Ayden Heaven from Arsenal for a compensation fee in January while Dorgu joined from Lecce for £25m rising to £29m.
The duo started together for the first time in United's enterprising Europa League win against Real Sociedad on Thursday night.