According to reports from The Express yesterday evening, Sporting Lisbon defender Paulo Oliveira has welcomed reports linking him with a move to Manchester United.
The 23 year-old signed for Sporting in summer 2014 and made 40 appearances across all competitions last season, demonstrating strong enough form to earn a first senior cap for Portugal in March after representing his country at youth level on 45 occasions.
Having missed out on a number of centre-back targets during the summer and resultantly asked utility man Daley Blind to fill in at the heart of defence for the start of the season, Oliveira’s recent form is believed to have caught Louis van Gaal’s attention at Manchester United.
Reports from earlier this month claim the Red Devils sent scouts to run the rule over the 6 foot 2 defender during a 2-1 win over Rio Ave. They’re now believed to considering a January bid, hoping they can sign Oliveira for a modest £6million.
And according to The Express, those reports have been welcomed by the former Vitoria man, who has described them as ‘a good sign’.
He told Portuguese TV station Antena 1: “It’s a good sign. I don’t know the truth of these claims, but it’s good to know that your work is being assessed and I have to continue to work so as to not rest on my laurels.”
However, Oliveira was quick to insist he’s still happy at Sporting. “I’m happy to be here and I hope to win more titles. The group is united and our main objective in each game is to win, which we will do because we have a talented group and we trust each other,” he said.
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