Mateus Fernandes is at the centre of a straight transfer fight between Manchester United and Tottenham, with West Ham demanding £85m and a sizeable chunk of any fee up front. Fabrizio Romano reported that West Ham want the best money available, regardless of which club wins the race. Fernandes is also reportedly keen on a move to Old Trafford, which gives United a pull Tottenham will have to work against.
West Ham's stance on the deal
Romano's reporting is blunt enough. "West Ham will sell Mateus Fernandes to the club offering the best money. So, West Ham don't care if it's called Tottenham, Man Utd, Real Madrid or whatever." He also said West Ham told those close to the player, "Bring us the proposals. We start at £85million. That's the starting price".
That stance fits the club's situation. West Ham finished 18th in the Premier League with 39 points, 46 goals for and 65 against. They are insisting on a significant proportion of any agreed fee up front, which is why this is not a simple bidding duel over headline price alone.
United, Tottenham and Fernandes' appeal
Tottenham have already held positive talks with West Ham over a prospective £85m deal and are offering a higher package overall. United remain in the picture too, and Fernandes' preference for Old Trafford keeps them firmly involved.
The interest is not just about the noise around the deal. Fernandes has 4 goals and 4 assists in 38 appearances for West Ham, which is a decent return for a 21-year-old midfielder in a team that struggled badly across the season. His former coach, Vasco Seabra, said: "He has a huge range of abilities. I mean, he has technical quality and he's a kid with a fantastic heart and mentality." He also said he expected Fernandes could reach Premier League level quickly because of his daily commitment in training and matches.
The race is still open, but West Ham have set the terms clearly. Tottenham have the more advanced talks, United have the player's reported preference, and the next move belongs to whichever club is willing to meet the £85m starting price on West Ham's terms.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →