Manchester United are stepping up their pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes as they prepare to submit a formal bid for the Portuguese star.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed that United are now in official contact with Fernandes’ agent, with conversations already underway to structure an offer to the Hammers.
Romano stated clearly: “Manchester United are in official contact with the agent of the player. Manchester United have already started the conversation with the agent to start preparing a bid to West Ham, so Man United are for sure in conversations with Mateus Fernandes.”
The 21-year-old has attracted significant interest following an impressive Premier League season, during which he scored three goals and provided four assists for West Ham.
Beyond his attacking contributions, Fernandes is widely regarded for his defensive work rate and ability to break up opposition play and launch counter-attacks from midfield.
His defensive output was particularly striking, as the former Southampton player averaged 2.9 tackles per game in the top flight last season, more than any Manchester United player managed.
Recent reports have suggested Fernandes will cost upwards of £80 million, though West Ham’s bargaining power has been notably weakened by their relegation to the Championship.
United’s move for Fernandes follows their decision to shift focus away from Elliot Anderson, whose price tag at Nottingham Forest has been pushed beyond the Old Trafford club’s reach.
Manchester City have reportedly tabled a British-record bid of over £100 million for Anderson, with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis showing no willingness to sell at a discount, especially with the World Cup potentially inflating the midfielder’s value further.
United have already moved to secure Atalanta midfielder Ederson as a cheaper alternative, with the Serie A club now reportedly eyeing Nottingham Forest’s Nicolò Savona as a replacement, adding further complexity to the transfer picture.
With the Elliot Anderson route looking increasingly unlikely, Fernandes represents a strategic alternative who would immediately strengthen United’s midfield options heading into next season.
The Red Devils’ pursuit of multiple midfielders this summer underlines the club’s determination to reshape and reinforce the engine room ahead of their upcoming campaign.