Manchester United are in discussions to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United, with the Portuguese midfielder high on their list of summer targets.
West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League has put several of their key players in a difficult position, with most expected to seek moves elsewhere this summer.
Fernandes, who is 21 years old, is among those expected to depart the London club following their drop into the Championship.
According to a report from The Athletic, West Ham would be willing to sanction his sale for a fee in the region of £80 million.
Manchester United have already held talks over a potential move, with discussions covering both the transfer fee and the player’s potential wages at Old Trafford.
It remains to be seen whether those early conversations lead to a formal proposal being submitted to West Ham in the coming weeks.
United’s need for reinforcements in central midfield is clear, and Fernandes is viewed as a player capable of addressing that problem in the long term.
The Portuguese international has consistently demonstrated his quality for West Ham and is widely regarded as having the tools to perform at a higher level.
Joining Manchester United could also give Fernandes the opportunity to link up with fellow Portuguese international Bruno Fernandes at club level.
Whether Bruno Fernandes could play a role in convincing his compatriot to make the move to Old Trafford will likely become a talking point as negotiations develop.
The £80 million asking price is likely to be a sticking point, however, given that United have several other areas of the squad they need to strengthen this window.
West Ham may need to reconsider their valuation if a deal is to progress, as United will be conscious of spreading their transfer budget across multiple positions.
Fernandes is undoubtedly a talented player with significant potential, but the club will need to weigh up whether his development justifies such a substantial outlay at this stage.
