TugaScout is an English-language site reporting on matters associated with Portuguese football by freelance writer Alex Goncalves, offering the latest news, reviews and opinions surrounding the Portuguese League and the Seleção players based abroad.

Portuguese international, available on a free, attracting interest from across the continent

After seeing his contract run out in the summer, a Portuguese international is set to embark on a new challenge next season.

Serie A outfit Parma are reportedly one side interested in bringing in the Portuguese midfielder, which would double their count of Portuguese players overall.

Already Parma boast the presence of veteran centreback Bruno Alves, now 38, who is also captain of the side, and further experience would be added to the team should Parma get their way.

Indeed, it is believed that midfielder Manuel Fernandes is a major target of the historic Italian emblem, with the 15-time Portugal international now a free agent after his contract with Lokomotiv Moscow recently expired.

Fernandes, 33, played in 20 of Lokomotiv’s league games this season as he scored 4 and assisted 5 to help secure a 2nd place finish in the league standings and a place in next season’s Champions League group stage.

The former Everton midfielder started the season as one of the club’s key players, but ultimately only played in 2 of Lokomotiv’s final 6 league games.

However, Fernandes did then go on to play the entirety of the Russian Cup final, and ultimately scored the only goal of the game as Lokomotiv overcame Ural to lift the domestic cup competition and earn major silverware for the second season running.

That is to be his last contribution for the 2018 Russian champions though, with his five year stay at the club now coming to a close.

While Parma are one side actively pursuing the former Valencia and Besiktas midfielder, Fernandes is unlikely to be short of offers.

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