Mateus Fernandes has ‘opened the doors’ to a potential move to either Manchester United or Tottenham Hotspur.
That’s according to Fabrizio Romano this morning, who adds that the coveted youngster will be ‘ending up’ at the club that submits the most lucrative financial proposal to West Ham.
Mateus Fernandes: The state of play
The Irons are demanding a fee in the region of £80-85 million for Fernandes, which is considerably more than United are willing to shell out upfront.
Spurs, on the other hand, are ready to match West Ham’s price tag, but may need to persuade the player to choose them over United due to their lack of Champions League – or any European – football next season.
While the Portuguese international will undoubtedly be made promises that he will play a pivotal role in Roberto De Zerbi’s squad, back-to-back 17th-placed finishes mightn’t pose as the most exhilarating project.
At Old Trafford, Fernandes would be granted the opportunity to ply his trade in the UCL, where he’s previously made only one 29-minute cameo during his time at Sporting Lisbon.
If not Fernandes, who else are United considering?
Yet, in the event Spurs do land the 21-year-old’s signature, the Reds have alternatives in mind.
The likes of Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba are still highly-regarded, while Alex Scott has been identified as United’s first-choice midfield target to pursue if they miss out on Fernandes.
Despite being called up to Thomas Tuchel’s provisional World Cup squad, Scott only travelled to England camp to train with the senior team before departing when the tournament got underway.
As a result, United would be able to hold talks with the Bournemouth star and get a deal over the line without any international interference.
Isabel, 25, is a football writer who has previously gained experience in the industry as the editor of Stretty News, along with work on Caught Offside, Last Word on Football and Give Me Sport. She is now the editor of UtdReport.
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