by Staff Writer
Thursday, 28th August 2025
Southampton manager boss Will Still has admitted that he expects Mateus Fernandes to complete a move to West Ham ahead of the transfer window deadline.
Fernandes, 21, is on the verge of sealing a switch to east London, for a total fee in the region of £42million, after expressing his desire to leave St Mary's.
Asked about transfers on Thursday afternoon ahead of his side's Championship visit to Watford, Still insisted he expects to replace the Portuguese midfielder with up to three players.
And the West Ham fan, who moved to Southampton from Lens back in May confirmed that the situation was now out of his hands.
"Matty is obviously a fantastic football player and a good human, but he wants to leave," stated Sill. "Then, it becomes incredibly difficult to keep him at the football club.
"I think the best thing for everyone is that he moves on and that he does what he needs to do, and we focus on people who want to be here who want to build something.
"Matty has been unbelievable for the time that he has been here. He is one of those others that has been put under pressure from national teams as well.
"He wants to go to the World Cup next year, he wants to be a part of the Portuguese team, which I get. And if West Ham get him, they have got an incredibly good player.
"It allows us to bring in extra quality and people who eventually want to be here. I think it's mixed feelings; I understand the frustration.
"Ultimately, when players don't want to be here and want to move on, then you get into a situation that is tricky for everyone, so that's where we're at."
Unsubstantiated reports suggest that Fernandes drove to London on Friday for a medical with West Ham without his current club's knowledge. West Ham are expected to announce the transfer ahead of Sunday's trip to Nottingham.
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