Tottenham Hotspur could hamper Manchester United’s prospects of signing West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes this summer, according to The Daily Mail.
United have already landed an agreement to sign midfielder Ederson from Atalanta. The Brazil international will formally join the club after the World Cup.
The club’s hierarchy are keen on bringing in another midfield recruit. Fernandes has been earmarked as the prime target, with manager Michael Carrick rating him highly.
The Red Devils have no concerns over personal terms with the Portugal international, but they have been reluctant to meet the £85 million valuation set by the Hammers.
Spurs are now planning to trump United in the pursuit. The north London outfit are seemingly ‘prepared to meet the asking price’ as they seek to bring in two marquee midfielders.
Man Utd should not overpay for Fernandes
The Red Devils are poised to lose Casemiro when his contract expires on June 30. Manuel Ugarte could likewise depart, having failed to meet expectations in recent seasons.
Regardless of Ugarte’s situation, United are eyeing two midfield additions. Ederson and Fernandes are viewed as ideal solutions, but the latter is proving pretty expensive.
Fernandes had a mixed debut Premier League season with Southampton before their top-flight relegation. He had a vastly better campaign with West Ham last term despite them suffering the same fate.
The Sporting CP graduate won six duels and three tackles per appearance last season. He also made five recoveries on average and chipped in with eight goal contributions.
Meanwhile, the Hammers need to recoup a substantial £150m from player sales to balance their books, and seem determined to secure a large portion of the sum from Fernandes’ exit.
Hence, they have been reluctant to lower their valuation. Spurs’ interest in the 21-year-old has intensified recently, and we won’t be surprised if they are prepared to meet the price tag.
In our view, Fernandes has not justified the hefty valuation after a solitary good season. Anything more than £60m seems substantial, and United should opt for an alternative if Spurs pay more.
They have already ‘made enquiries‘ for Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott. The Englishman could be prised away for around £60m, but United are likely to face competition from Arsenal.
Stats from Sofascore