Manchester United are edging closer to securing West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes in a deal expected to land around the £60m mark.
The Portuguese midfielder has already agreed personal terms ahead of a potential move to Old Trafford this summer.
Real Madrid, another club credited with strong interest in Fernandes, now expect the player to sign for the Red Devils, according to reports from The Sun.
TEAMtalk further report that United are set to submit a formal bid, though it will fall short of West Ham’s £80m valuation of the player.
The Hammers were relegated last season, which significantly weakens their negotiating position and makes a sale at a reduced price increasingly likely.
United had also been chasing Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson but cannot match Manchester City financially in that particular pursuit, with Sandro Tonali’s £100m asking price also considered too steep.
Mateus Fernandes ranked ninth among Premier League midfielders for distance covered last season, logging 279.3 kilometres and sitting inside the top ten alongside Anderson, who led the category with 318.6 kilometres.
Among Under-21 midfielders across Europe’s top seven leagues, Fernandes ranked second for progressive passes completed and first for possession won, defensive duels won, and interceptions.
Those numbers point to a player built for the pressing demands of manager Michael Carrick’s system, with the ability to do the dirty work vacated by the departing Casemiro.
Casemiro’s struggles at the 2026 World Cup underlined the urgency of United’s midfield rebuild, with the veteran withdrawn at half-time during Brazil’s opener against Morocco after being given the runaround by 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The Brazilian is reportedly set to join Inter Miami after the tournament, bringing his time at Old Trafford to a close following 160 appearances, 24 goals, and 14 assists after a £70m move.
Fernandes won six duels per 90 minutes last season compared to Casemiro’s 6.5, suggesting the younger man can replicate the defensive output while adding significantly more energy and athleticism.
United have already agreed a separate deal to bring Ederson to Old Trafford for £39m, with the midfielder set to undergo a medical soon, making this a busy and decisive summer for the club.
Bruno Fernandes famously broke the Premier League assist record last season, finishing with 21 in total to surpass the previous joint record of 20 held by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.
The article’s suggestion that Mateus Fernandes could be United’s best signing since Bruno arrived from Sporting in January 2020 reflects just how highly the West Ham midfielder is regarded ahead of this deal.
Kobbie Mainoo remains part of Carrick’s midfield plans but is less naturally suited to the defensive side of the game, making a dynamic and combative operator like Fernandes a crucial addition.
United supporters will hope the club can finalise the deal quickly, with personal terms already in place and negotiations with West Ham the only remaining hurdle to clear.