A leading transfer reporter has revealed that Man United have opened talks with key West Ham star Mateus Fernandes over an ‘expected’ move this summer.
It looks like West Ham will struggle to hold on to Mateus Fernandes this summer with Manchester United making a concrete move to sign him.
The summer transfer window opens in just over two months on June 15th and West Ham’s owners have admitted players will have to be sold after the club posted record £104m losses in their latest accounts.
Man United are planning to try and benefit by luring away brilliant Portuguese midfield star Fernandes just one year after he arrived in a £40m move from Southampton.
Man United open talks with Fernandes’ camp over summer move
A journalist recently named Fernandes as one of four key stars West Ham will sell in a bid to bridge the gap in their finances.
Now the first official step has been taken by Manchester United to bring the all-action 21-year-old to Old Trafford.
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Malick Diouf playing for West Ham against Newcastle United. Mateus Fernandes playing for West Ham against Tottenham.
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Because Man United have opened talks with West Ham star Fernandes over an ‘expected’ move.
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According to Ben Jacobs, Fernandes is ‘definitely going to be tough to keep’ for the Hammers this summer.
Mateus Fernandes during Fulham v West Ham United - Premier League
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Now Man United have held initial ‘cursory talks’ with Fernandes’ camp over leaving West Ham for the Red Devils this summer in a move being driven by director of football Jason Wilcox.
“Yeah, I think there’s a possibility he (Fernandes) leaves West Ham, obviously, because if they go down, then definitely (he is) tough to keep,” Jacobs told The United Stand.
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West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Manchester United at London Stadium on February 10, 2026 in London, United Kingdom.
“And there is some appreciation, I’m told, by Jason Wilcox, and he falls into the same category as Joao Gomes, to my knowledge, where Man United have run some data, they’ve had a few cursory conversations, but it’s just really important to stress at this stage in particular, a few months out from the summer, if Jason Wilcox and Christopher Vivell were not speaking to a hundred players’ camps, they wouldn’t be doing their job.
“So, part of it is just about understanding direction of travel, merry-go-round movement, market opportunities if a team goes down. So there have been some internal conversations about players like Joao Gomes, Mateus Fernandes, but at this stage, I’m not aware that Manchester United have done much more than that.”
Mateus Fernandes during West Ham United v Sunderland - Premier League
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It would be a crying shame for West Ham to lose Fernandes after just one season.
But the fact the Hammers look likely to be forced to sell – even if they stay up – is indicative of how the club has been run over the last few years.
Manchester United are right to target Fernandes as he is a sensational talent with potential to improve too.
The athletic, powerful box-to-box star has been everywhere for West Ham and has been the team’s best and most consistent player in his debut season.
Crysencio Summerville has stolen all the headlines over the last few months, but it is Fernandes’ ball-winning, driving runs and talent which have been the real key to Nuno Espirito Santo’s side’s rejuvenation.
Man United have clearly identified that and it seems they know the Hammers will have to sell.
Interestingly, the Red Devils were criticised for not pushing to sign Declan Rice when he was leaving West Ham.
Now they have put the wheels in motion to sign Fernandes, who many feel is finally the Rice replacement West Ham needed.
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