Man Utd inform new top target they’re ‘prepared to advance’ but set transfer ceiling

Manchester United are reportedly ready to take their interest in West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes to the next level.

After parting ways with Casemiro and placing Manuel Ugarte on the transfer list, the Red Devils are in the middle of a major midfield overhaul.

United have already secured a full agreement with Atalanta for Brazilian midfielder Ederson, who will become the club’s first signing.

Man Utd accelerate their attempts to sign Mateus Fernandes

Despite Ederson’s imminent arrival, INEOS are still expected to recruit another two midfielders, and all signs are pointing towards Mateus Fernandes as their next target.

The 21-year-old suffered back-to-back Premier League relegations at Southampton and West Ham. And yet, his clubs’ misfortunes have done little to hurt his reputation, as he remains one of the most exciting young midfielders in England.

The Portuguese international has several suitors, but is said to favour a move to MUFC above all else, especially since his role model is none other than Bruno Fernandes.

According to Marco Alvarez, Man Utd have informed the Sporting Club youth product their desire to sign him.

The Red Devils are prepared to ‘advance’, but only if West Ham are willing to accept offers worth £50-60 million.

Despite their demotion to the Championship, the Hammers have placed a hefty £80 million price tag on the young player who cost them £39 million last season

However, Man Utd are only willing to proceed if the East Londoners agree to reduce their demands. Jason Wilcox and his MUFC colleagues are keen to move early to beat the competition.

🚨💣𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: Understand Man Utd have informed Mateus Fernandes camp today, they are prepared to ADVANCE if #WHU are open to negotiate in region of £50m-£60m. 21yo is open to joining #MUFC, with Utd keen to accelerate talks as they’re aware of interest from other clubs. pic.twitter.com/AZ6g412WmF

— Marcó Alcaraz (@MarcoAlcaraz_) June 5, 2026

What would Fernandes bring to Man United

While he primarily operates as a box-to-box midfielder, Fernandes is also comfortable playing further up the field or even in a deeper role. The relentless Portuguese brings dynamism, technique, and a fighting spirit.

All in all, the West Ham star is a truly well-rounded midfielder. His metrics show he has no obvious weak points in his game.

Moreover, Fernandes particularly excels at duels and winning back possession, which is crucial for Man Utd, who have just lost their midfield general in Casemiro.

(Stats via DataMB)

While Anderson outperformed him in several other areas, it should be noted that Fernandes still has a large room for improvement, given his young age.

Moreover, West Ham’s overall struggles may have impeded his game, and one would expect him to take his game to the next level if placed on a more functional side.