Three more names have been thrown into the mix to sign West Ham playmaker Mateus Fernandes ahead of the summer transfer window. But with all due respect, they are unlikely to set timbers shivering quite like Manchester United or Manchester City.
At the risk of sounding a little delusional, your humble Hammers News correspondent feels there is a fair-to-decent chance that Mateus Fernandes will still be patrolling the engine room for Nuno Espirito Santo in 2026/27.
Of course, Premier League survival would do West Ham United’s hopes the world of good.
You’ve picked your prospective Player of the Year! 🏆
What can Summerville do to snatch victory from Fernandes?
Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United celebrates his goal with Crysencio Summerville of West Ham United during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at the London Stadium in Stratford, England, on January 24, 2026.
And though we have often posited that Fernandes could become the Hammers’ next £100 million footballer somewhere down the line, the way things are sitting right here, right now, suggests that the newly-capped Portugal international may be sticking around for a sequel season in claret and blue.
Let us explain…
Manchester United and Man City like West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes
It is no secret that Mateus Fernandes is a huge admirer of Bruno Fernandes. The former admitted as much himself a few weeks back.
But, according to The Sun, Manchester United have other midfielders in their crosshairs right now. The same can be said of Man City.
While reportedly long-time admirers of the former Sporting Lisbon and Southampton starlet, Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali appear to be ahead of our Matty in the pecking orders of both United and City.
Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes during Wolverhampton Wanderers v West Ham United - Premier League
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
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Fernandes is far from a ‘last resort’, but also a long off off being the priority target.
TEAMtalk add that, while Aston Villa, Newcastle and Everton are reportedly ‘strong admirers’, West Ham have no plans to cash in even if they are relegated. What’s more, with a contract until 2030, the Hammers will expect a substantial profit on the already considerable £40 million fee they forked over to Southampton less than 12 months ago.
For various reasons, it is hard to imagine Villa, Newcastle or Everton spending upwards of £60 million on a single player right now.
Newcastle and Aston Villa have ongoing PSR concerns
Yes, Newcastle spend a quarter of a billion last summer alone. But that was mostly financed by Alexander Isak’s Premier League-record departure. One suspects the Magpies would rather keep Tonali and captain Bruno Guimaraes than sell either and bring in Fernandes as a replacement.
Aston Villa had the lowest gross spend in the division last summer, meanwhile, and remain locked in vice-like PSR grip. A la Newcastle, they could realistically only afford to make a serious offer for Fernandes if a star player or two – Morgan Rogers, probably – departs.
How does Mateus Fernandes compare to a young Declan Rice? 🇵🇹
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West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes celebrates scoring his side's third goal during the Premier League match between West Ham United and Sunderland at London Stadium on January 24, 2026 in London, England.
Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images
Everton’s interest is perhaps the most ambitious of all. While i Paper claims that David Moyes could be handed a sizeable ‘warchest’ – potentially up to £100 million if the Toffees qualify for Europe – spending more than half of that on Fernandes when reinforcements are needed at centre-half, full-back, and up top would be an odd move indeed.
And for a footballer as ambitious as Fernandes, swapping West Ham for an admittedly-improved Everton would barely qualify as a diagonal step, let alone a forward one.
Of course, this could all come back to bite our backsides. Confidence brazenly misplaced. But confident for a reason.
Stay up – West Ham can leapfrog Tottenham into 17th if they beat Wolves on Friday – and Premier League football might not be the only thing staying at the London Stadium beyond the summer.
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