Manchester United are pushing to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with personal terms already being discussed ahead of a potential summer deal.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that United remain in “concrete conversations” with the 21-year-old Portuguese playmaker, making them the frontrunners in the race.
Tottenham Hotspur have now entered the picture after holding talks with the player’s agent, adding a new competitive dimension to what had been a straightforward United pursuit.
Romano revealed the latest developments on his YouTube channel, where he outlined that the Red Devils have already been “discussing personal terms” with Fernandes, giving them a clear head start.
The reported fee of around £80m for a player whose club suffered back-to-back Premier League relegations may raise eyebrows, but United have a notable history of extracting talent from struggling sides.
New manager Michael Carrick will be eager to strengthen his squad after United’s third-place finish last season, with Fernandes identified as the club’s primary transfer target this summer.
The comparison to Carlos Tevez is not without merit, as both players arrived or are arriving from West Ham carrying significant potential despite their club’s difficulties in the league.
Tevez scored seven goals for West Ham in 2006/07, largely from March onwards, before Sir Alex Ferguson moved to sign him and unlock a new level of performance at Old Trafford.
The Argentine went on to contribute 48 goals and assists across 99 games under Ferguson, an impressive return for a player who was never even the primary attacking option behind Rooney and Ronaldo.
Fernandes offers a similarly workmanlike quality, averaging 3.9 tackles and interceptions per game in 2025/26, which was notably ahead of Casemiro’s average of 3.5 in the same statistical category.
While Tevez was primarily an attacker, Fernandes operates deeper as a midfielder, yet both share that relentless, all-action style that tends to connect immediately with the Old Trafford crowd.
The Portuguese player did make four errors leading to a shot in the Premier League last season, highlighting a rawness to his game that mirrors the rough edges Tevez displayed early in his career.
However, Fernandes still managed a solid return of seven goals and assists across all competitions, demonstrating that his influence on matches extends well beyond just defensive contributions.
After seasons of relying on the ageing legs of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen in central midfield, a young and mobile player like Fernandes would offer a much-needed injection of energy.
United’s first summer signing is also close to being confirmed, with Atalanta’s Ederson all but set to join, the only delay being the Brazilian’s late call-up to Carlo Ancelotti’s World Cup squad.
There has also been reported interest in West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville, who scored for the Netherlands against Japan last week and is available for around £50m following the Hammers’ relegation.
Fernandes remains the priority, though, and with personal terms already under discussion, United will be hoping to wrap up a deal before Spurs can mount a more serious challenge for his signature.