Updated: 16 Jun 2026 09:48 BST |
5 min read
Manchester United have taken a huge risk in their pursuit of Mateus Fernandes after telling West Ham United they are not prepared to pay €92million (£80m) to sign the midfielder, according to the Daily Mirror.
The Red Devils are in the process of revamping their midfield this summer, with The Times reporting last Friday they were poised to sign Fernandes ahead of Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
Fernandes was a shining light in an otherwise torrid 2025-26 campaign for West Ham, who suffered relegation from the Premier League after finishing 18th and one place below Tottenham Hotspur.
However, according to The Mirror, United officials have told West Ham they will not match their current valuation of Fernandes, who is viewed as the best young player on the market by Nuno Espirito Santo’s side.
The same publication understands West Ham are keen to kick-start a bidding war between Man Utd and rival suitors for Fernandes, though the 21-year-old has reportedly made Old Trafford his preferred destination.
United are understood to have stepped up their interest in the Portugal international after backing away from their pursuit of Nottingham Forest and England star Elliot Anderson, according to BBC Sport.
The same outlet claims United are not willing to move for a player who does not have his heart set on joining them, with Anderson reportedly keen on joining fierce rivals Manchester City instead.
BBC Sport revealed last Thursday that Forest turned down a second offer worth up to €138m (£120m) for Anderson from City, who is regarded as one of the Premier League’s best central midfielders.
An alternative report in The Telegraph understands Forest will only sanction Anderson’s departure if they receive an up-front figure which is close to the €144m (£125m) British record transfer fee Liverpool shelled out on Alexander Isak last summer.
United meanwhile are close to signing Atalanta midfielder Ederson after they agreed a €40.5million (£35m) deal with the Serie A side at the start of June, according to BBC Sport.
There have been fears the completion of the transfer will be delayed after Ederson received a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad after Roma defender Wesley sustained an injury on the eve of the tournament.
However, according to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, the 26-year-old midfielder was scheduled to undergo a medical last Sunday as his move to United draws ever-closer.
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