Manchester United have identified Mateus Fernandes as one of the centrepieces of their midfield rebuild this summer.
West Ham United are demanding £80 million to sanction his sale, but INEOS have no intention of meeting that valuation.
The Athletic revealed yesterday that Tottenham Hotspur have entered the race to sign Fernandes, with head coach Roberto De Zerbi pushing to get the deal done.
There are four key reasons why United fans should not be worried about Tottenham hijacking this transfer.
The lure of Champions League
United are back in the UEFA Champions League after a two-year absence, while Tottenham Hotspur will be without any European football next season.
At 21, Fernandes will naturally want to test himself against the very best players in world football.
He has earned a cap for Portugal but missed out on the World Cup squad due to the extraordinary depth of talent available to the national team.
If he wants to establish himself as a regular international, competing in elite European competitions for elite clubs will be essential.
Fear of another relegation battle
Fernandes has already endured more than his fair share of disappointment early in his career.
The midfielder suffered relegation in consecutive seasons, first with Southampton and then with West Ham.
Tottenham have finished 17th in the Premier League in back-to-back seasons.
Had it not been for De Zerbi, Spurs could have been preparing for the Championship right now.
Fernandes deserves to play for a club with higher ambitions.
Realistic chances of major honours
Tottenham may have lifted the Europa League recently, but United appear better positioned to challenge consistently for the biggest trophies.
The Red Devils finished third in the Premier League last season and showed clear signs of progress under manager Michael Carrick.
With both Liverpool and Manchester City entering new managerial eras, the competitive landscape is shifting.
Arsenal remain the benchmark, but United have a realistic opportunity to close the gap if they recruit effectively this summer.
For a player eager to win major honours, Old Trafford represents an extremely attractive destination.
The Bruno Fernandes effect
Mateus considers Bruno Fernandes one of his footballing idols. Few opportunities would be more appealing than learning directly from the player he has admired for years.
The United skipper also reportedly wants the youngster to play for the Red Devils.
Arsenal and Real Madrid are also interested in the West Ham star but he favours a move to Old Trafford.
Given the options available to him, it would be unrealistic to imagine him turning down United, Arsenal and Real Madrid in favour of Spurs.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com