United's interest in M Fernandes explained: they tried to sign him for £40m but were rejected! West Ham's asking price revealed, refusing to sell cheaply

As reported by The Times, United have held preliminary talks with West Ham over Mateus Fernandes. Since the Hammers dropped into the Championship and require player sales to improve their finances, the Red Devils aim to bring in the talented Portuguese midfielder for £40m. However, West Ham have made it clear that neither United, Arsenal nor Paris Saint-Germain can get him for less than £80m, as they refuse to undersell due to relegation. Further negotiations are expected in the coming weeks.

The London Stadium has been a frequent destination for European scouts this season, and the player they are all watching is undoubtedly 21-year-old M Fernandes. Since joining from Southampton last summer for £38m, M Fernandes has made 42 appearances this season, scoring 5 goals and providing 5 assists. His most memorable moments include a long-range strike in the 3-1 win over Sunderland in January and a lightning-fast goal after just 29 seconds against Aston Villa last December.

West Ham have long planned for life without M Fernandes. Even before their relegation was confirmed, the club acknowledged they would sell the 21-year-old Portuguese talent to make a profit in the summer window. Dropping into the Championship has merely reduced the amount they can earn.

M Fernandes still has five years left on his contract with West Ham, plus a one-year extension option, and there is no release clause. This means the Hammers remain in control and will not sell at a loss, especially with Southampton entitled to 15% of any future transfer fee, which any potential buyer must cover.

Both Ligue 1 and Champions League double winners Paris Saint-Germain and their Champions League final opponents Arsenal are interested in M Fernandes, which speaks volumes about his ability. Although he has suffered relegation with two different clubs in consecutive seasons—which might seem unlucky—his immense potential means top clubs will overlook such superstition.

M Fernandes has performed impressively for two consecutive years. At the end of the 2024/25 season, Southampton finished bottom of the Premier League, but M Fernandes was voted the club's Player of the Year. He scored 2 goals and made 4 assists in 36 league appearances. His displays at West Ham have shown further improvement compared to the previous campaign.

In August 2024, M Fernandes joined Southampton from Sporting CP for £15m, having made only five appearances for his boyhood club. At the time, Sporting had players like Matheus Nunes, João Palhinha, and Manuel Ugarte—all now playing in the Premier League, with Ugarte currently at Manchester United!

The coach who sanctioned M Fernandes' sale was Rúben Amorim, former Manchester United manager. When agreeing to the transfer, Amorim said: "We lost a very valuable young player. In my view, he has the qualities to become a great player, but we had to make choices. We sat together with Mateus in a room—his value was high. But when the club asked if I could sell Gonçalo (Inácio), I said no; if I could sell Morten (Hjulmand), I said no. We really wanted to keep Mateus, and honestly, I think he wanted to stay too, despite the big contract offer from a top league. It was a difficult moment for everyone, but I reiterate: we had to choose, and as a coach, I also had to make a choice."

Southampton and West Ham have molded M Fernandes. His start at the London Stadium was slow, as manager Nuno Espírito Santo preferred Lucas Paquetá as the main attacking midfield option, but the Brazilian left in January for €41.25m to join Flamengo. M Fernandes replaced him and has since improved.

M Fernandes can play as a defensive midfielder, winger, or number 10, and he performs better in attacking roles because he often gets opportunities to drive forward. In one match against Arsenal, he nearly equalized. Two of his five assists helped West Ham beat Tottenham and Burnley, both relegation rivals.

When M Fernandes partners Tomáš Souček in midfield, Souček usually sits deeper. In the past, playing alongside Paquetá, M Fernandes operated in a deeper role. Former West Ham manager Graham Potter brought M Fernandes in, making him his top transfer target. West Ham's initial £30m offer was rejected, and Potter convinced the club to increase their bid.

The ultimate beneficiary was Nuno Santo, who shares Portuguese nationality with M Fernandes and helped the player. "Last season at Southampton, I played in more advanced positions, like winger, but midfield is my best position," M Fernandes said. "When I spoke with the coach, he asked me my favorite position, and I told him. Of course, if the coach asks, I can play winger or full-back, but midfield is where I feel best."

M Fernandes added: "I'm playing much better now than when I first arrived. Of course, the coach has helped me a lot. He gave me freedom and confidence to express myself. As I've said many times before, the game against Leeds was the most important for me because I was on the bench and took time to reflect on what I was doing. I learned a lot in that moment, and I think I'm a much better player now than before."

The 1-2 loss to Leeds United last October was the only league match under Nuno in which M Fernandes did not start. He learned from that experience, becoming a more influential player and boosting his confidence. M Fernandes has made 38 appearances for Portugal's U18 and U21 teams. In March, he earned his first senior call-up and made his debut in a friendly against the United States under coach Roberto Martínez.

"Mateus is playing incredibly well right now," Martínez explained. "We all know his story and his performances at the U21 level. For us, it's very important to see his ability, his physicality, and his versatility. He deserves to be in the national team."

Reports suggest United began working on a deal for M Fernandes back in January, making initial contact with West Ham during the winter window. United's scouts admire his ball control, vision, running ability, and consistency, viewing him as a modern box-to-box midfield prototype. Scouts attended multiple West Ham matches, particularly against Bournemouth, Liverpool, and Fulham, where M Fernandes successfully passed technical and physical evaluations.

According to sources, United believe in M Fernandes' potential, thinking he can reach a level similar to his Portuguese compatriots João Neves and Vitinha, both of whom have played major roles at Paris Saint-Germain. Moreover, his price has become more reasonable due to West Ham's relegation, with a maximum possible fee of around £60m. United reporter Andy Mitten said: "United really like M Fernandes—that's a fact."

At the start of the season, M Fernandes set many goals for himself, most of which were not achieved—such as keeping West Ham in the Premier League or going to the World Cup. But his personal stats were solid. Now, he hopes that his desire to join a top club, especially Manchester United, can be fulfilled this summer.