West Ham United have placed a price tag of at least £84 million on midfielder Mateus Fernandes, more than double the £42 million they paid Southampton to sign the 21-year-old just last summer. The asking price is designed to fend off interest from Manchester United, who have emerged as frontrunners to land the Portuguese talent and have already made contact with his representatives.
Fernandes has been one of very few bright spots in what has been a miserable league campaign for the Hammers. He has featured in 34 of their 36 Premier League appearances this season, contributing six goals and four assists across all competitions while displaying the kind of progressive passing and defensive energy that attracts attention from the very top of the market. Multiple European scouts have been spotted at West Ham fixtures in recent weeks, a clear indication of how widely his performances have been noted.
The pricing strategy is complicated by West Ham’s precarious league position. Sitting in the relegation zone with two matches remaining, the club faces the prospect of dropping into the Championship, a scenario that would almost certainly make retaining Fernandes impossible. West Ham are reported to value him at £50-80 million in the event of relegation, lower than the £84 million demand if they survive. That sliding scale gives clubs like United a clear incentive to wait and see how the final fixtures play out.
Bruno Fernandes has reportedly encouraged United to pursue his compatriot, with the club captain publicly supportive of bringing the West Ham man to Old Trafford. Paris Saint-Germain have already made contact with his camp, while Arsenal, Newcastle, Manchester City, and Chelsea are all monitoring the situation. For INEOS, landing Fernandes at a post-relegation price would represent solid value for a midfielder with Premier League pedigree who fits the age and profile criteria they have publicly outlined. The next two weekends, starting with West Ham’s trip to Newcastle, could determine whether his asking price drops significantly or holds firm.