Manchester United are planning to launch a huge first offer to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes imminently, according to Football Transfers.
Man United had been looking to wrap up some of their summer transfer business before the World Cup kicked off on Thursday night, with one deal over the line after they reached a full agreement, pending a medical, to sign Brazilian midfielder Ederson from Atalanta.
The Red Devils have been tipped to be the busiest Premier League club in the summer transfer window by David Ornstein, so there will be a lot more business to come.
United chiefs are looking at bolstering different areas of the pitch, like at left-back, the left wing position and potentially in goal too, should Altay Bayindir and Andre Onana depart Old Trafford, but there is no question that the main priority is their central midfield rebuild.
Ederson is the first piece of the puzzle there following the exit of Casemiro, with Manuel Ugarte expected to join the Brazilian in leaving the club this summer.
While Michael Carrick will have Ederson and Kobbie Mainoo at his disposal if Ugarte goes, he will have few specialist senior options for the position beyond that.
It has been suggested that United could sign two more midfielders after the Atalanta star, although one is a certainty.
Man United Planning 'Serious' £65m Offer for Fernandes
West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes celebrates scoring Premier League goal against Sunderlandvia Reuters
According to Football Transfers, Manchester United are planning on submitting an offer to West Ham for Manuel Fernandes 'in the coming days'.
The 21-year-old has emerged as a top target for the Red Devils with a deal for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson looking to be out of reach after Manchester City had a bid worth a total of £120m rejected by their Premier League rivals.
Fernandes is expected to leave West Ham by the end of the transfer window, and sources have told Football Transfers that the Red Devils are expected to make a 'serious' offer worth £65m imminently.
That offer is below the Hammers' valuation of the 'incredible' one-cap Portugal international however, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Championship club are demanding £85m for their midfield sensation.
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Man United Targeting Second Premier League Midfielder
England's Alex Scott smiles in a press conference
World Cup - UEFA Qualifiers - England Press Conference - Tottenham Hotspur Training Centre, London, Britain - November 11, 2025 England's Alex Scott during the press conference Pool via REUTERS/Bradley Collyer
via Reuters
Following Manchester City's rejected Anderson bid, United are now looking elsewhere at midfielders that they think want to join them in the summer transfer window, according to Ornstein.
Fernandes is one of those, with Bournemouth's Alex Scott another.
Like the Portuguese midfielder, Scott enjoyed another impressive season for the Cherries as they qualified for the Europa League next season.
And, like Fernandes, the 22-year-old also narrowly missed out on a spot in his nation's World Cup squad, having been overlooked by Thomas Tuchel for his 26-man team.
According to GIVEMESPORT sources, Bournemouth value the Englishman at £80m ahead of the summer transfer window, with two years remaining on his contract at the Vitality Stadium.
United also continue to have an appreciation of Carlos Baleba of Brighton and Hove Albion, with an agreement on personal terms dating back to last summer already in place for the Cameroon international.