Sporting Lisbon midfielder Bruno Fernandes has expressed his desire to play in England’s top flight. The news comes amid rumours of interest in the 24-year-old from Manchester United.

The Portuguese international is heading to the United States with his teammates for a pre-season tour but he admits that he is harbouring dreams of a move away from his homeland.

“I don’t care about the market, I’ve talked about this many times,” he told reporters.

“The only thing I can do now is that I need to catch the plane so I don’t miss it. Will this be the last match for Sporting? I don’t know, it’s the coach who decides.

“I told I’d like to play in England, but I don’t care about it right now. “If it could be this season? It could be when the club decides, I’m not in charge.”

Fernandes signed a new five-year contract with Sporting last summer, but that deal includes a £31m release clause. His club are believed to value him at close to £60m but, should any club meet the release fee and Sporting turn them away, Fernandes will be due £4.5m in compensation.

Having scored 32 goals in 50 matches for Sporting last season, Fernandes was part of the Portugal squad that won the inaugural UEFA Nations League Finals in June, where the reigning European kingpins overcame Netherlands 1-0 to win the final on home soil.

Portugal are 17.00 to win Euro 2020 next summer, with the Netherlands 10.00 and England 5.50.