According to Sky Sports Germany transfer expert [Florian Plettenberg](https://x.com/Plettigoal/status/1955330170216386979), West Ham will need to significantly increase their offer if they want to sign Mateus Fernandes.
Plettenberg—who many will remember as a close associate of former Hammers director of football Tim Steidten—was once at the forefront of West Ham transfer news. Now, in his latest update, he has revealed that Southampton are willing to sell Fernandes, but only if a club meets their valuation.
That valuation is a staggering €57 million in guaranteed funds—just under £50 million depending on your favoured bureau de change. In short, it would require West Ham to break their [transfer](https://www.claretandhugh.info/west-ham-transfer-news/) record, set when Lucas Paquetá was signed from Lyon.
The key word here is guaranteed. This means no add-ons, no performance clauses—just a straight £50 million fee, most likely paid in instalments over five years.
It’s a bold stance from Southampton, and one that makes it unlikely they’ll find many takers outside of Europe’s financial heavyweights despite last nights EFL Cup goal.
Suffice to say, if they hold firm on that valuation, their bluff may be called—and Fernandes could be spending another season in the Championship.