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Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United for £85m, according to Sky Sports, with the midfielder now set to undergo a medical.
The fee would comfortably break Spurs’ transfer record, surpassing the £65m paid for former Liverpool and Bournemouth striker Dominic Solanke in 2024.
Manchester United also pushed hard to sign Fernandes but opted against meeting the valuation, sticking to their policy of only targeting players at what they consider the right price.
Mateus Fernandes had not been strongly linked with a move to Liverpool earlier in the summer, but transfer expert Fabrizio Romano claimed the Reds made initial contact regarding the 21-year-old’s availability.
Romano reported that Liverpool made a “call” to West Ham to enquire about the midfielder’s situation, signalling early interest ahead of a potentially competitive transfer battle. However, Fernandes is now expected to join Tottenham Hotspur, bringing that pursuit to an end.
West Ham are believed to regard Fernandes as one of the Premier League’s brightest young midfielders, with internal comparisons drawn to Declan Rice following his £105m move to Arsenal in 2023.
Last season, Fernandes established himself as one of the Premier League’s most effective ball-winners, with his tackling ability standing out to those who know his game. His high-intensity running is also a key part of his profile, often allowing him to get into challenges in the first place.
He ranked among the top 10 Premier League midfielders for distance covered, underlining his work rate and engine in midfield.
Originally, Fernandes was not signed by Southampton as a deep-lying midfielder. Under then-manager Russell Martin, he was viewed more as an advanced option.
However, West Ham identified his evolving skill set and deployed him mainly as a hybrid No 6/No 8 last season, utilising both his defensive intensity and ability to contribute higher up the pitch.
Fernandes racked up 38 appearances in all competitions for West Ham last season, scoring four goals, and emerged as one of their standout performers during a difficult campaign that ultimately ended in relegation to the Championship after a 14-year stay in the Premier League.