West Ham manager Graham Potter is desperate to reinforce his midfield this summer as the Hammers look to turn promise into Premier League progress.
The English boss has openly said he wants at least two midfield additions, but so far, concrete moves have been elusive.
Potter has been assessing Lille’s Ngal’ayel Mukau, while a move for Aston Villa’s Jacob Ramsey was once thought to be on the cards — though he now looks set for Newcastle.
Another name in Potter’s sights is Mateus Fernandes of Southampton, said to be the manager’s top target. However, the London club’s pursuit of the 21-year-old has just hit a major roadblock.
Southampton Reject West Ham’s Opening Bid for Fernandes
Southampton's Mateus Fernandes. (Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)
Southampton’s Mateus Fernandes. (Reuters/Andrew Couldridge)
According to a new report from The Athletic, Southampton have rejected an offer from West Ham United for Fernandes.
The opening bid, reportedly worth up to £30 million including add-ons, fell well short of the Championship club’s valuation and was turned down without a counter proposal.
Fernandes — under contract at St Mary’s until 2029 — is valued by Southampton on a similar level to fellow midfielder Romeo Lavia, who left for Chelsea in a £58 million deal last summer.
“Talks will only resume if West Ham or any other suitor shows a willingness to get closer to that level,” the report added.
Despite Southampton’s relegation, Fernandes was considered their best performer, having racked up among the most Premier League minutes of any player under the age of 21 last season.
The Portugal Under-21 international joined the south-coast club from Sporting CP in August last year and went on to make 44 appearances in all competitions, including 36 in the Premier League.
Former Saints boss Russell Martin praised Fernandes as an “exceptional young talent” with a “brilliant mentality,” even going as far as to say that it was “amazing business for the club to get him” in the first place.
For West Ham, matching that valuation won’t be easy. If the Hammers want Fernandes at the London Stadium, they’ll need to pull off a piece of business that’s just as remarkable as Southampton’s original signing.