Graham Potter, Head Coach of West Ham United, and Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, shake hands at full-time following the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park on January 10, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (Graham Potter, Head Coach of West Ham United, and Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, shake hands at full-time following the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park on January 10, 2025 in Birmingham, England. (
Graham Potter, Head Coach of West Ham United, and Unai Emery, Manager of Aston Villa, shake hands at full-time following the Emirates FA Cup Third Round match between Aston Villa and West Ham United at Villa Park on January 10, 2025 in Birmingham, England. ( | Getty Images
West Ham United are expressing an interest in a player from one of the relegated Premier League clubs
The ex-Chelsea and Brighton and Hove Albion boss took over at the London Stadium in mid-January. He has won just four of his 18 games in charge, drawing five and losing nine. The Englishman will have the chance to put his firm stamp on the squad in the summer as he looks to improve the Irons’ fortunes next term.
West Ham are on 40 points after 37 games and although they have never been under genuine threat of relegation, it has been a disappointing campaign for a club who have had a regular taste of European football in recent seasons.
Mateus Fernandes eyed by West Ham - but Leeds United and Aston Villa circling
West Ham are looking at a move for Southampton ace Mateus Fernandes, per a report from Football Insider. The 20-year-old has made 35 appearances for the Saints this season, scoring two goals and provided three assists in a miserable campaign for the club.
His goals this season came against Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur while he provided assists against Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace. Southampton have endured a miserable season in the Premier League, as they narrowly avoided matching Derby County’s record low of 11 Premier League points in a campaign.
The report claims West Ham are keen to sign the midfielder who is valued around £25m but Leeds and Villa are also keen to offer him the chance to stay in the Premier League. Southampton’s relegation will make things tougher for the club to keep a hold of him. He is under contract until the summer of 2029, so the south coast club are not completely powerless.
Mateus Fernandes hailed best Southampton player by ex-midfielder
Former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem spoke highly of Fernandes earlier in the season. He said, via BBC Sport: "Mateus Fernandes is on people's radar because every week he plays his heart out, he is by far the best player on the football pitch from a Saints perspective.”
He added: "I said the same about Romeo Lavia. I didn't think he would stay for a season in the Championship and he didn't - leaving after a year - and he [Fernandes] is on a similar level, albeit a different type of player. He is becoming an ultimate Premier League midfielder and clubs are not going to let that go.
"He plays like a Premier League player. He passes like a Premier League player. He is quick like a Premier League player. He conducts himself so well in midfield."
Fernandes was voted Southampton Fans’ Player of the Season in what has been his first campaign at the club. He said: "It means a lot for me [to have this accolade]. When I speak, I speak for the players and we play for the fans. The thing most important in football is the fans so they know they are very important for me."
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