Man Utd are interested in signing West Ham's talented midfielder Mateus Fernandes in the summer transfer window.
West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes.(Image: 2025 West Ham United FC)
View 4 Images
Mateus Fernandes won't be overly concerned about West Ham's relegation. He is represented by superagent Jorge Mendes, and has received interest from Manchester United and Real Madrid.
There will be no visits to Lincoln, Preston or Bolton for Fernandes next season. Instead, he will be involved in Champions League nights and visit some of the most culturally rich destinations Europe has to offer.
Nobody could blame him for wanting a potential trip to the French Riviera rather than a visit to the Toughsheet Community Stadium.
Which club Fernandes will represent next season is the question, because along with interest from United and Madrid, the midfielder is being tracked by Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal. There is a growing expectation that he will end up switching to Old Trafford, though.
Fernandes is guaranteed to become the record-breaking Championship sale this summer. Romeo Lavia is the current record holder, as Chelsea signed him from Southampton for £53million, plus £5m in add-ons, following their relegation three years ago.
Fernandes is understood to be open to a move to United, and formal club-to-club talks are now expected following Manchester City's two bids to sign Elliot Anderson, who was United's priority target.
West Ham have slapped an £85m price tag on Fernandes, but that will be a starting point in negotiations with a club that needs to raise cash to get back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
The value of City's bid for Anderson shows that the midfielder market is inflated, though. Top midfielders are in high demand, and the clubs in possession of those players will hold out for as much cash as possible.
United have sensed an opportunity to negotiate with West Ham after their relegation, which provides hope a fairer fee for Fernandes can be agreed.
Fernandes after scoring in January.
View 4 Images
Fernandes has back-to-back relegations from the Premier League on his CV, having joined West Ham from Southampton last year, but he is seen as a player with all the ingredients to reach the top of the sport, which is why United are interested in signing him.
United's data department, led by Michael Sansoni, is hugely influential on the club's transfer strategy, and the numbers from last season alone show Fernandes is a decent second choice to Anderson.
Fernandes won more tackles than Anderson and made more accurate switches of play. He wasn't far behind Anderson on ground duels won, possessions won, and possessions won in the defensive third.
Anderson was viewed as a dream signing at Old Trafford, so it's no surprise United are also considering Fernandes, who could have more upside as he is two years younger so should keep on improving.
“He has a huge range of abilities. I mean, he has technical quality and he’s a kid with a fantastic heart and mentality," his former coach, Vasco Seabra, told Radio Renascenca.
“We expected, and I particularly expected, that he could reach top teams very quickly, but it would be false of me to say I expected that, two years later, he could be in Real Madrid’s plans. He was really very young when he came through us.”
Seabra backed Fernandes to succeed in the Premier League, adding: “I expected he could reach Premier League level in a very short time. He really had a mentality and a daily commitment, both in training and matches, that made me believe he could reach a very high level.”
Fernandes during his time with Estoril.
View 4 Images
Seabra coached Fernandes during his loan spell with Estoril in 2023/24. The midfielder progressed through Sporting Lisbon's academy, making his senior debut aged 18, and he appeared in a Champions League tie against Tottenham, but it was decided he would join Estoril for a season.
Fernandes made 35 appearances for Estoril and helped the club reach the Allianz Cup final, where they were beaten on penalties by Braga. He helped Estoril finish safely in mid-table, but he did not play for Sporting again after his loan. Southampton signed Fernandes for £15m, and he initially arrived to play in a more prominent midfield position.
"He was used as a little bit more as a No 10, a little bit more of an advanced role," former Southampton manager Russell Martin told Sky Sports. "But when I spoke to Matty through conversations with him, quite apparently, he saw himself as more of an all-round midfield player, more of a No 8. And that would lend himself to the defensive side of the game.
"What Matty wanted to do, he wanted to run. He wanted to be involved in the game as much as possible. But certainly, looking at his performances at West Ham this year, he certainly moved forward in terms of his game intelligence and mixed in with his strength, his tenacity and his engine."
Fernandes after scoring against Liverpool in 2024.
View 4 Images
Fernandes was hugely popular with Southampton fans, but he joined West Ham for an initial £38m last summer, and it's at the London Stadium where he began playing in a deeper midfield role more consistently.
Discussing the links to Madrid, Fernandes' former coach Seabra said Jose Mourinho would be perfect for him.
“I believe a profile like Mourinho’s – an expert in communication, leadership and in the way he manages players’ expectations and frustrations – would be beneficial," he said.
“He pushes players upwards and challenges them to become better. It would be a relationship that could be very beneficial for both.”
Mourinho is one of the greatest managers the game has ever seen, but Michael Carrick played for him, worked with him and can relate to players after enjoying a playing career himself, something Mourinho did not achieve.
United's pitch to Fernandes is straightforward: join the biggest club in England, work under one of the finest midfielders of his generation, and be part of the United team that ends the wait for a Premier League title.
The opportunity to play with Bruno Fernandes will also attract Fernandes, who has idolised the United captain since he was a boy. A midfield of Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, and Fernandes would be exciting to watch.
United chiefs will be disappointed to be missing out on Anderson, but that blow will be softened if Fernandes can be signed.