Tottenham Hotspur have seemingly surged ahead in the race to sign West Ham United in-demand midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with the club now close to reaching an agreement with the player on personal terms. The North Londoners moved quickly to propose an attractive long-term contract, establishing clear common ground with the 21-year-old’s representatives as manager Roberto De Zerbi seeks to rebuild his midfield ahead of his first full season at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Portuguese international has attracted interest from several elite clubs following an outstanding individual campaign at the London Stadium. Despite West Ham’s relegation to the Championship, Fernandes consistently impressed with his press resistance, elite defensive metrics, and excellent distribution. This has drawn attention from continental heavyweights Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid, as well as strong domestic interest from Manchester United. While Old Trafford is believed to be Fernandes’ preferred destination, he is reportedly open to signing for Tottenham.
However, finalising a deal with West Ham remains a significant challenge. Despite major progress on personal terms, Tottenham have yet to open official negotiations with West Ham, who have set a firm valuation close to £85 million. With personal terms virtually agreed, Tottenham hold little leverage heading into the next phase of negotiations but will still need to be wary of competition from Manchester United. West Ham could sanction a sale before the June 30 accounting deadline, after which a new financial year begins. Alongside Fernandes, Spurs are also interested in Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and have reportedly reached an agreement on personal terms with the Italian.