Manchester United have made contact over Mateus Fernandes's situation in the last 48 hours, and the first conversation has already moved to money. Fabrizio Romano said United started discussing the eventual cost of the deal, including the transfer fee and salary. West Ham want £85m, which is the figure that now defines the chase.
Why the fee is the real issue
That price is why this is still just a negotiation. Romano said United are very interested, but he was also clear that West Ham want £85m to let Fernandes leave in the summer transfer window. It is a steep number for any deal, and it is especially steep when United are only at the contact stage.
Fernandes is expected to leave West Ham this summer because he is not viewed as a Championship player, but that does not make the sale simple. The talk around his future may be more advanced than a normal rumour, yet the asking price still gives United a proper decision to make.
Where Fernandes fits in United's rebuild
The move also sits inside a wider summer rebuild at Manchester United. Romano said the club are very interested in Fernandes and added, "after Ederson, which is already done, the next one could be him." United have already reached a full agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, with that move expected to be completed at the beginning of July after a medical.
There is a football case for Fernandes, too. Since moving to England in 2024, he has 5 goals and 8 assists in 72 Premier League appearances. That is solid end product for a midfielder who has already done it across two relegations. The problem is not whether he has value, it is whether United want to pay £85m for it.
The interest is real, the contacts are recent and the player profile fits the kind of midfield refresh United are trying to build. But the fee is the headline here. Unless West Ham move on that number, this remains a difficult deal rather than a likely one.
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