By Kris Gonzo | Senior West Ham Columnist (Follow on X)
Manchester United are supposedly ready to make their first offer for midfielder Mateus Fernandes, but according to a report in the Mirror today, it will not be the £80 million that West Ham want.
I have to say that this is something of a bizarre transfer strategy from the movers and shakers at Old Trafford, who have been promising and leaking news about a proposed Fernandes bid for the past two weeks.
Quite why anybody should take this latest development seriously is anyone’s guess.
Talking Is The Easy Part
The likes of Fabrizio Romano reported last week that Manchester United had been in contact with Fernandes’ agent, Jorge Mendes, and that advanced discussions had taken place.
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That’s all well and good, of course, right up until the point where you actually have to agree a fee with the selling club.
And that’s where the problems begin.
West Ham have made it abundantly clear that they are under no pressure to sell cheaply, and there seems to be a steely resolve in the corridors of power at the London Stadium at the moment.
West Ham Can Afford To Wait
With Daniel Kretinsky calling the shots and enjoying the backing of the board, the club’s objective appears to be retaining as many key players as possible.
A cash injection from the Czech billionaire is still expected and, as a result, West Ham can afford to wait for the right offer rather than accepting the first bid that lands on the table.
That changes the dynamic completely.
Under the previous regime, buying clubs sensed vulnerability and knew we were skint.
That doesn’t appear to be the case now.
Pay Up Or Shut Up
Manchester United have already been priced out of a move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, with reports suggesting his valuation reached £121 million.
As a result, they have switched their attention to Fernandes.
But repeatedly briefing journalists about an imminent bid feels more like a negotiating tactic than genuine progress.
West Ham know exactly what they want for the player.
And from everything coming out of the club right now, they appear only half-listening to anything below their valuation.
Premier League clubs may have to accept that West Ham are nowhere near as financially vulnerable as many assume.
At the moment, it feels very much like a case of pay up or shut up.