West Ham: Mateus Fernandes transfer twist emerges as Spurs take action | OneFootball

The future of Mateus Fernandes has become an intense source of transfer speculation

West Ham are set for a busy summer following their relegation from the Premier League.

The Hammers were two points adrift of Tottenham Hotspur as they finished 18th in the table.

A 3-0 win on the final day against Leeds United wasn’t enough to overturn the gap, with Spurs also earning victory in their game against Everton.

Nuno Espírito Santo will now be looking to build a team capable of earning promotion straight back to the top flight at the first attempt, as West Ham achieved when they were last relegated in 2011.

The futures of top stars are now in doubt, meaning it could be a period with a lot of transfer activity at the London Stadium.

But the change in ownership structure, with Daniel Kretinsky becoming the new majority shareholder, could help them fend off interest through the summer.

Spurs enter race for West Ham star Mateus Fernandes

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Journalist Ben Jacobs has claimed that Spurs have entered the race to sign Mateus Fernandes from West Ham.

It’s believed that the London outfit have made an enquiry regarding the midfielder’s availability, even as they face competition from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

"They're looking at the market with various names,” said Jacobs, via Give Me Sport.

“They made an enquiry for Mateus Fernandes, even though the direction of travel there is Manchester United or PSG.

"Real Madrid could even enter that race, but he was another player that they looked at.

“Funny, because Tottenham and West Ham just don't do that much business ever, and yet we might get a flurry now, because the reports, of which I also was one of them, around Crysencio Summerville and Tottenham were legitimate, even though West Ham tried to deny it at the time."

It has been claimed that West Ham have set an asking price of £80 million for the Portuguese star, who joined the club last summer from Southampton.

However, it’s understood that Man United are not willing to meet that figure at this stage, with Michael Carrick targeting the 21-year-old in his first summer in charge at Old Trafford.

The Premier League side are keen to bolster their midfield options, but they now face competition from Spurs.

Roberto De Zerbi is also in his first summer with the club, and will be keen to rebuild the side after they narrowly avoided relegation at the expense of West Ham.

Fernandes joined West Ham last year in a deal worth a reported £40 million, and he quickly became a key part of the first team squad.

The midfielder featured 36 times in the top flight, contributing three goals and four assists.

He’s earned a lot of plaudits for his performances, which has caught the attention of numerous top clubs, with Real Madrid also being linked with the player.

Fernandes has a contract with West Ham until June 2030, giving the Hammers plenty of leverage in any upcoming transfer negotiations.

West Ham can hold firm on Mateus Fernandes asking price

While it’s been reported that Man United don’t want to pay the £80 million for Fernandes, Spurs entering the race for his signature means it will be easier to hold firm on that figure.

The Hammers have no immediate need to sell, and the player isn’t pushing for a move just yet, so they hold a lot of the cards, even with relegation to the Championship.

Real Madrid and PSG are also in the mix, so West Ham should feel good about at least getting paid this summer if they are going to lose Fernandes.

And if nobody meets that fee, and if the club don’t immediately need the money, then they can wait another year before cashing in because he has every chance of retaining that value if he helps the Irons gain promotion in 2027.