Manchester United are the frontrunners in the race for West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes, who could be available at a discount.
The Premier League giants are planning a major midfield revamp this summer. They have already parted ways with Casemiro, and Manuel Ugarte could be sold for the right price.
With Kobbie Mainoo being the only out-and-out midfielder who is guaranteed to stay at Old Trafford next season, Man Utd could buy three new players in this department.
Man United leading the queue for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes
United have already secured an agreement to buy Ederson from Atalanta on a deal worth circa £38 million. The parties are currently ironing out the last remaining details in the deal.
Therefore, the club has already turned its attention towards a second signing, with Mateus Fernandes emerging as one of the main targets.
The 21-year-old is a Sporting CP academy product who arrived in England in 2024. However, he suffered back-to-back relegations with Southampton and West Ham. Hence, he is expected to be on the move once again.
(Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
According to CaughtOffside, Fernandes is being tracked by seven other clubs, namely PSG, Arsenal, Chelsea, Aston Villa, Napoli, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid. Nevertheless, Man Utd have the edge over their rivals,
The Red Devils have reportedly accelerated talks with the player’s entourage, as they look to close the deal for the Portuguese international.
The Hammers had set their initial asking price at €50-60 million, but they could be forced to lower their asking price following their relegation to the Championship.
Why Man Utd are interested in Fernandes
The young midfielder has already received the blessing of his compatriot and role model, Bruno Fernandes, who has been his main sponsor at Man Utd.
Moreover, the 21-year-old is reportedly a profile that Carrick loves, while the management views him as a long-term solution for the role.
Fernandes is a modern midfielder who combines physical strength and stamina with neat technical skills, in addition to a fighting spirit that marks him as a fan favourite wherever he goes.
This season, the young midfielder was ever-present in West Ham’s starting lineup, contributing with five goals and as many assists in 42 appearances across all competitions.
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