Manchester United have made Mateus Fernandes a priority midfield target this summer, but the club are keeping alternative options firmly on the table.
Journalist Ben Jacobs has confirmed that United are prepared to move in a different direction if a deal for the West Ham midfielder cannot be completed.
Jacobs outlined the club’s contingency thinking clearly, stating: “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.”
The comments reveal a flexible and considered approach from United’s recruitment team, who are unwilling to be held hostage by a single negotiation.
West Ham’s valuation of Fernandes has complicated matters significantly, with The Guardian reporting the relegated club are demanding around £80m for the midfielder.
That asking price is a steep one, particularly given West Ham’s relegation and the financial pressure that comes with dropping out of the Premier League.
Carlos Baleba represents one of the more exciting alternatives United have been monitoring, with the Brighton midfielder offering a physically imposing and dynamic profile in the centre of the park.
His ability to carry the ball through pressure and win possession aggressively fits the kind of athletic midfield rebuild United have been attempting to construct for some time.
Brighton are notoriously tough negotiators in the transfer market, and Baleba’s age, experience and potential could mean his price tag rivals that of Fernandes.
Sander Berge offers a more measured and potentially more accessible route into the midfield market for United this window.
The Fulham midfielder brings Premier League familiarity, physical presence and composure on the ball, qualities that could appeal if United prioritise reliability over star power.
Sky Sports had previously reported that United held interest in Berge before his move to Fulham, meaning this is not a new relationship between the club and the player.
Berge may lack the headline appeal of Fernandes or Baleba, but his experience at the top level of English football gives him a credible case for consideration at Old Trafford.
United’s summer midfield strategy appears built around the belief that having multiple viable targets provides the best chance of landing at least one significant signing in the position.
With Fernandes the headline name, Baleba the exciting alternative, and Berge the dependable fallback, Manchester United look to have covered a range of outcomes heading into a critical transfer window.
