Manchester United have already made contact with Mateus Fernandes' agents, while Jason Wilcox is personally keen on a 2026 summer move for the West Ham midfielder. Fabrizio Romano said United have also started conversations about the fee and salary. The problem is obvious: West Ham want £85 million for him, with the price said to have risen by £5 million in the past week.

United's contact gives them a head start

Romano was clear on the nature of United's involvement. "I can guarantee two things. Man Utd are in direct conversations with the agents of Mateus Fernandes. Man Utd made contact over the last 48 hours with the agents of the player, and Man Utd started conversations about eventual cost of the deal, transfer fee and also salary," he said.

That is more than loose monitoring. It is direct contact with the player's camp, plus an early attempt to get a feel for the numbers. Wilcox's personal interest matters too, because it suggests this is not just another name being parked on a list. Manchester United are third in the Premier League on 68 points from 37 games, which at least gives them the pitch of a Champions League-level destination.

Why the price makes this difficult

The money is the part that can stall this quickly. West Ham paid an initial £38 million plus £4 million in add-ons for Fernandes last summer, after he joined from Southampton, and their current asking price is far higher than that. A separate report put the valuation at £85 million, while another suggested £80 million, so there is still a gap in how the fee is being framed.

That sort of spread matters because Arsenal are also hovering. They are top of the Premier League on 82 points from 37 games, which gives them plenty of room to wait rather than rush. West Ham's recent league form, WLLLW, does not exactly scream bargaining strength either, so a sale feels like the more realistic direction if the right offer lands.

For now, United have the clearer line of contact. Arsenal look more patient. West Ham have set a price that makes the deal awkward, and Fernandes is exactly the kind of player where that awkwardness can drag through the summer before anyone blinks.

Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →