Manchester United has joined the race for FC Porto midfielder Fernando.

According to reports, Fernando will be out of contract with FC Porto at the end of the season, so he will be free to speak to clubs in January and he has been heavily linked with a move to Everton in the summer.

The Premier League champions joined the hunt for Fernando with Serie A clubs Inter Milan and Juventus already in the race to sign the player who currently has a €30m buy-out clause in his recent contract which won’t be met considering the length of time he has left on his contract, as clubs lay in wait for the expiration of his contract with Porto.

Everton have already tested the Portuguese club’s resolve by bidding half of his termination fee in the summer but the deal broke down, while trying to get the player to renew his contract to avoid this scenario but have been unsuccessful in persuading him to extend it beyond June 2014.

Fernando was on the verge of signing for Everton in the summer for £15m as a replacement for the departing Marouane Fellaini. It was reported that during the last transfer window, manager Roberto Martinez had gone through the trouble of attending a meeting in London regarding a work permit for the player. Talks were advanced, only for FC Porto to pull out of the deal.

Despite these latest reports it is unlikely that David Moyes will be totally convinced in signing Fernando even though he could cost nothing.

Inter Milan is leading the chase for the midfielder and with Juventus also keen on him, Fernando may head to Italy.