West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes has been linked with Manchester United but they are not the only club in the hunt
Real Madrid are said to be eyeing a move for West Ham star Mateus Fernandes, which could potentially pave the way for Manchester United to secure Aurelien Tchouameni. Both midfielders have been heavily linked with a switch to Old Trafford this summer, with one of those names potentially joining alongside Ederson.
United have already struck a deal with Atalanta for the Brazilian international, and Michael Carrick is now on the lookout for another midfield reinforcement. Elliot Anderson is thought to be the primary target, though Manchester City appears to be his most probable destination.
West Ham’s relegation means Portugal international Fernandes is in high demand, and he will likely have options when it comes to a return to top-flight football. The Hammers want £80million for the 21-year-old, who joined from Southampton in 2025.
Arsenal and Tottenham are among other Premier League sides seeking midfield additions this summer, but it is the Spanish giants who could have a significant bearing on United’s transfer plans. According to Mundo Deportivo, Fernandes is Jose Mourinho’s preferred signing, and his potential arrival would necessitate a departure.
Tchouameni appears the most likely candidate to leave, though the likes of Eduardo Camavinga and Dani Ceballos are also among those who could be offloaded. Mundo Deportivo’s report suggests any revenue generated from offloading Tchouameni, who would command a considerable fee, would be reinvested in securing a suitable replacement.
Enzo Fernandez is also being considered by Los Blancos, who have already secured his Chelsea teammate Marc Cucurella. Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva have moved to the Bernabeu on free transfers, with Mourinho appearing to prioritise experience, though Fernandes doesn’t necessarily fit the profile of the other arrivals.
Tchouameni is currently at the World Cup alongside his new team-mates, while Fernandes was left out of Portugal’s squad despite a stellar campaign at West Ham.
Relegation to the Championship will almost certainly trigger the departure of at least one of Fernandes, Jarrod Bowen or Crysencio Summerville from the London Stadium ahead of the 2026/27 season.
United have also been linked with Bowen and Summerville, neither of whom is likely to command as high a fee as Fernandes, with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye emerging as another attacking target. Left-back remains a position the club are keen to address.
Lewis Hall and Nathaniel Brown have been mentioned as potential targets, as has West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf. Brown caught the eye for Germany at the World Cup earlier this month, scoring in a win over Curacao.
Outgoings are also anticipated. Rasmus Hojlund has already completed a permanent move to Napoli and Manuel Ugarte looks set to follow Casemiro through the exit door.
Marcus Rashford’s future continues to dominate the headlines, with his prospects of a move to Barcelona fading following their capture of Anthony Gordon. The former came off the bench to score in England’s 4-2 win over Croatia on Wednesday, with his situation expected to be resolved once the World Cup concludes.
