A top transfer correspondent has delivered a major update on West Ham’s pursuit of Southampton star Mateus Fernandes – and it changes everything.
Hammers News exclusive
West Ham and Southampton’s stances on a potential deal for Mateus Fernandes have now been laid bare.
The Hammers’ underwhelming window has burst back into life in the last 24 hours.
That was after the club’s shocking wake-up call defeat to Sunderland in the opening game of the season.
West Ham have made official bids for at least three midfielders and one of those was a second offer for Southampton star Fernandes.
The Hammers saw an offer of £28m plus £2m in add-ons rejected by the Saints around 10 days ago.
Details of second West Ham bid for Fernandes revealed
It was claimed Southampton told the Hammers hierarchy not to bother making another bid for Fernandes unless they added another £20m on top.
The highly-rated, all-action Portuguese won more duels than any midfielder aged 21 and under in Europe’s top five leagues last season.
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Southampton paid £15m to sign him from Sporting last summer and he was a standout player in their dismal relegation season.
Many journalists, pundits and fans have criticised Southampton’s £50-60m valuation of Fernandes.
But Southampton are not facing any immediate financial difficulties, so the price they set is their prerogative.
Mateus Fernandes looks focused before Southampton's game against Leicester City in the Premier League
Photo by James Holyoak/MB Media/Getty Images
In a boost for Graham Potter as he seeks to overhaul his woeful midfield, a top West Ham insider revealed Fernandes wants the move.
It has been claimed a lack of interest from other Premier League clubs – who would be able to afford Southampton’s asking price – could persuade the south coast club to sell for less than their reported £50m valuation.
Details of West Ham’s second bid to Southampton have now emerged.
It is claimed the Hammers have upped their offer to £32m including add-ons, effectively up £2m on their initial bid.
Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg claims the second bid from West Ham was £30m plus £2m in add-ons and that ‘Southampton are not selling at that price’.
The news has been greeted with a mixture of understanding and fury in Hammers fan circles.
Game-changing Fernandes update as West Ham and Saints stances revealed
Some feel it is a fair offer given Fernandes has just been relegated with Southampton and it is more than double what they paid just one year ago.
The fees other top Premier League midfielders, such as Jacob Ramsey, James McAtee, Mohammed Kudus, Anthony Elanga and Noni Madueke, have been going for has been used as proof Southampton’s asking price is over the top.
Now there has been a game-changing Fernandes update as the stances of West Ham and Southampton are revealed.
Football correspondent Graeme Bailey has spoken to top sources involved with the deal.
Bailey has exclusively told Hammers News that the second bid won’t be the last fans hear on the matter.
Mateus Fernandes points the way forward as he helps Southampton beat Wrexham
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
Hammers all-in for Saints star and know £40m would be accepted
Because West Ham are ‘all in’ on Fernandes and have set their limit for a deal.
And that upper ceiling will be accepted by Southampton, Bailey reveals.
“They are all in now on Fernandes now,” Bailey told Hammers News.
“I have been told West Ham will go to £40m for him overall, which Southampton will accept.
“But it might take a few bids.
“I’m not sure how many bids it will take but they (West Ham) effectively know £40m is the number they need to get to.”
That is extremely encouraging for West Ham fans to hear.
Cynics will ask why West Ham don’t just commit to the £40m if they know that’s what Southampton will really accept.
But this is West Ham we are talking about and things are never that straightforward when it comes to the Hammers in the transfer market.
There often appears to be a lack of logic to some of their transfer talks.
Although it seems a likely ploy that West Ham want to wait it out in the hope Saints will be forced to accept less than £40m so they can get the deal done and make signings of their own before the window closes.
The news from Bailey comes after Southampton boss Will Still told Sky Sports this week he has been using Fernandes in his team because it would be ‘stupid not to’ given how good he is.
And when asked about his future, Still confessed: “I’ll use him as long as I can… we all know what football is like.”
The problem is, West Ham fans know what their club can be like too.
This one is far from over, though, it seems.