Mateus Fernandes is 21 and reportedly open to moving to Tottenham to stay in the Premier League. Spurs are said to be close to agreement on personal terms, but West Ham want £80m to £85m and have still not entered formal talks with Tottenham.

[Ben Jacobs] said: "Absolutely, Mateus Fernandes leading target for Man Utd at the moment. If they don't get him, I still think there's legs to the Carlos Baleba situation and keep an eye on Sander Berge, who's another player that Manchester United have discussed in recent weeks."

Tottenham's edge is on the player side

That is the key part of the story. Spurs have moved to the front of the personal-terms race, and that is a real advantage when a transfer is still at the negotiation stage. The problem is the same one that has been there from the start: West Ham have not softened their stance.

Fernandes only arrived at West Ham from Southampton in summer 2025 for over £40m, and the club now want more than double that back. He made 39 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring five goals and providing five assists. There is a difference between a useful season and an £80m-plus valuation, and this one has to clear that gap before any deal can move.

Why United are still relevant

Manchester United are not out of it. Jacobs described Fernandes as United's leading target, while also naming Carlos Baleba and Sander Berge as alternatives if they miss out. United finished third in the Premier League on 71 points, so the interest makes sense, even if Spurs currently look further along on the player side.

West Ham's season explains why they are in a position to ask for such a fee. They finished 18th on 39 points, and Tottenham were only one place above them in 17th on 41 points. Spurs are already reported to have completed moves for Andy Robertson, Jan Paul van Hecke and Marcos Senesi this summer, and they are being linked with as many as seven signings.

The race is still open because the important part has not happened yet. Tottenham may be close to Fernandes, but until they sit down with West Ham, this remains a three-way fight rather than a finished move.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →