Things are starting to heat up for West Ham’s midfield rebuild with one deal getting the ‘here we go’ and another set to follow close behind while there has been a shock Southampton claim from Alex Crook.
West Ham have less than two weeks left to make signings as Graham Potter plots his midfield rebuild.
Central to those plans has been Southampton star Mateus Fernandes.
West Ham’s hugely disappointing window burst back into life in the wake of the opening day defeat to Sunderland.
But it has now gone into overdrive with a renewed effort to sign Southampton’s 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Fernandes part of Potter’s push.
West Ham have been linked with no less than 12 midfielders in 48 hours from all corners of Europe and the Championship.
It comes after the Hammers saw an offer of £28m plus £2m in add-ons rejected by the Saints for the former Sporting star they paid £15m for last summer.
Fernandes tops West Ham’s ever-growing midfielder list
Southampton allegedly told West Ham’s board not to bother making another bid for Fernandes unless they added another £20m.
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Widespread reports this week claimed West Ham did go back to Southampton with a second bid, one of a host of official offers the Hammers submitted for targets.
It was claimed the Hammers 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’.
That came as a crushing blow after a top West Ham insider revealed Fernandes wants the move.
Graeme Bailey then told Hammers News that West Ham were prepared to eventually go to £40m for Fernandes, which he says the Saints would accept.
Mateus Fernandes after Ipswich Town v Southampton - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images
‘Here we go’ on West Ham deal and another to follow
West Ham ideally want to sign two midfielders before the deadline, with Southampton’s Fernandes being the main target.
Clearing the decks is just as important for Potter, though.
Not only in terms of bringing in funds and freeing up wages but also for team morale and players being part of the manager’s plans.
Now there have been several developments.
There has been a ‘here we go’ on a West Ham deal and another is set to follow as Alex Crook makes a shock claim about talks with the Saints over Fernandes.
talkSPORT transfer chief Crook is very well connected at Southampton.
And he claims that in actual fact West Ham have not made a second bid to the Saints for Fernandes.
Crook makes shock claim about West Ham’s Saints talks
“Understand Saints are yet to receive a second bid from West Ham for Mateus Fernandes,” Crook said on X.
The news comes as Fabrizio Romano gives his trademark ‘here we go’ to a deal which will see Edson Alvarez finally join Fenerbahce.
Romano says the deal is done to take Mexico captain Alvarez to Fenerbahce under Jose Mourinho on an initial loan with a buy option clause.
Alvarez, who has reportedly had a big falling out with Potter dating back to last season, has flown to Turkey for his medical.
Edson Alvarez and Emerson Palmieri have been frozen out at West Ham under Graham Potter
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
A host of clubs came in for Alvarez when he looked set to join Fener earlier in the week.
🚨🟡🔵 EXCL: Edson Álvarez to Fenerbahçe, here we go! Deal done on initial loan with buy option clause.
The midfielder will fly today for medical tests. ✈️🇹🇷
After considering his options key for Fener choice was José Mourinho really keen on getting him — and European football. pic.twitter.com/E6Ns1W9z25
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 21, 2025
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Alvarez’s former club Ajax, Everton, Porto and Dortmund all allegedly showed interest.
Romano states that after considering his options it was Mourinho’s drive to get him in the club and European football which sealed the deal for Alvarez.
That Hammers departure looks set to be followed closely by another.
Because according to Foot Mercato journalist Sebastien Denis, Emerson Palmieri will finally be put out of his West Ham misery imminently.
Emerson was expected to be one of the first out of the West Ham exit this summer after Potter made it clear he was not in his plans within 24 hours of taking the job in January.
Alvarez gone and Emerson to follow
The Hammers boss dropped Emerson in his first game for young Ollie Scarles.
The Brazilian-born Italy international only started a handful of games after that and was subbed off in every single one.
Emerson was told to find a new club this summer and was left out of the team’s pre-season matches so he could seal his departure.
Teams in Turkey, Italy and Brazil have been linked with Emerson but with the transfer window closing soon, no move has materialised.
Until now with Marseille in talks to bring him back to Ligue 1, where he played for Lyon.
No fee is mentioned but West Ham were looking for at least £4-5m for the ex Chelsea man Hammers News understands.