Mateus Fernandes is now in the middle of a summer chase involving Manchester United and Tottenham, with West Ham refusing to soften their valuation. Ben Jacobs said suggestions that Fernandes has already chosen his next destination are premature, while Spurs have held advanced discussions and United have maintained ongoing dialogue since May.

Tottenham's head start and United's response

The cleanest read here is that Tottenham appear a little further along in the conversation, but that does not make this settled. Jacobs' reporting is clear on both sides of that argument: Spurs have held advanced discussions with the midfielder, yet United have kept talking for weeks and there is nothing to suggest Fernandes has already made his decision.

That leaves the race open, even if the pressure is building. Manchester United finished third in the Premier League, a reminder that midfield reinforcement sits near the top of their list rather than near the bottom.

Carrick has already spoken like a manager planning for movement. "There's obviously work to do. I know it's quite obvious, there's certain players leaving, that there's a bit of work to do," he said. "It's not any more important, this one, than the last one, or it's what's ahead of us as a football club to try and make the most of."

West Ham's asking price is the obstacle

West Ham are the club trying to control the pace of this one. The line from the reporting is that they are refusing to lower their asking price, helped by a recent £90 million cash injection. That gives them leverage, even with a mixed run of results behind them, including a 3-0 win over Leeds in their last five league matches.

Tottenham's recent form is more stable, with four wins and a draw in their last five league matches, and the club are reportedly willing to meet a valuation of around £80 million for Fernandes. That is the kind of number that keeps a deal alive, but it does not mean West Ham are ready to move.

For now, the deal looks less like a sprint and more like a stand-off. United are still involved, Spurs have gone further in talks, and West Ham are setting the price. The next move is likely to come from whichever club decides the valuation is worth meeting first.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →