Liverpool are said to be in the picture to sign highly-rated young West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with Manchester United providing strong competition.
The 21-year-old may have suffered relegation from the Premier League with the Hammers, but he still enjoyed an impressive season on a personal level, shining with his performances.
Fernandes started 35 out of 38 league matches for West Ham in 2025/26, scoring three goals and registering four assists, and it is no surprise to see some of the biggest clubs in the country showing an interest in him.
According to a new report from TEAMtalk, Liverpool are one of those in the conversation to snap up the Portuguese midfielder, with the Reds “closely monitoring” him.
The £80m-rated Fernandes “has been given the green light” to leave West Ham after their relegation to the Championship, and United are also “firmly in the race” to snap him up.
In fact, both the Red Devils and Arsenal have “already made contact with West Ham and are actively weighing up formal bids” for the midfielder.
Could Mateus Fernandes be Liverpool’s next great midfielder?
Fernandes looks like a fantastic prospect, already standing out in the Premier League at such a young age and being hailed by Liverpool legend Jan Molby, who has said of him:
“I think he’s exceptional, and I mean exceptional. That boy ain’t staying at West Ham, regardless of what happens. He’s got it all. He’s mobile. He’s technically very good. He reminds me a bit of the two Portuguese midfielders who run and dominate at PSG. This boy’s the real deal.”
Fernandes would bring box-to-box quality and energy to Liverpool’s midfield, both of which were sorely lacking this season, and his best years are still well ahead of him.
The likes of United and Arsenal will likely push hard to sign him, so it won’t be easy for the Reds to get their man, but he should be considered a leading target along with the likes of Adam Wharton, Alex Scott and Lamine Camara.
It would be a surprise if Liverpool didn’t end up with one of those four come the beginning of next season, and Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes have to nail their choice of midfielder.