Sporting CP remain hopeful of fighting off Manchester United from star attacker Joao Mario.

A Bola says the capital club are prepared to extended his contract until 2021 and hand him a major pay boost to put him in the same bracket as star man William Carvalho.

They are prepared to wait until Portugal's participation at Euro 2016 ends or start talks towards the end of the transfer window.

Mario has a £45m release clause in his contract and United are willing to meet it and hand him a long-term deal worth around £140,000-a-week.