Leeds United, Nottingham Forest & Crystal Palace learn fresh asking price for Southampton FC ace | OneFootball

Fernandes is a man in demand after Southampton's relegation to the Championship

Leeds United, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have all learned a fresh asking price for Southampton star, Mateus Fernandes, as all three sides chase the midfielder's signature.

That is according to Portuguese outlet, A Bola - relayed by Sport Witness - who state that valuation claims in the region of €35m (£30m) don't match the Saints' true valuation of the 20-year-old playmaker, with the newly-relegated club demanding a much higher sum as they prepare for life back in the Championship.

It was a disastrous season back in the Premier League for the South Coast outfit after they defeated the Whites at Wembley Stadium in the play-off final 13 months ago, ending the campaign with more permanent and temporary bosses than league wins and the highest number of defeats in a 38-game top-flight season, finishing with just one more point than Derby County's well-documented 11-point total back in 2007/08.

Regardless, Fernandes was one of very few players in Red and White to emerge with credit for his performances alongside the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Tyler Dibling, both of whom have also been touted for summer departures away from St Mary's.

And, just two weeks after the latest man in the hotseat, Will Still, confirmed his first incoming in the form of centre-back Joshua Quarshie, the 32-year-old could have a greater transfer kitty to work with if Fernandes is to leave between now and September 1st.

Southampton FC demanding more than €35m for Mateus Fernandes as PL quartet express interest

The Under-21 international, who featured in his country's opening game of the Under-21 UEFA European Championship against France on June 11th, moved to the Solent club from Sporting CP for £15m on a five-year contract last August.

It was reported last month that Fernandes' compatriot, Nuno Espírito Santo, was considering signing the midfielder - who netted twice and registered four assists last term - for Forest as a potential replacement for Morgan Gibbs-White should the England international depart the City Ground. Alan Nixon later revealed that second-tier champions Leeds, FA Cup winners Palace and Aston Villa have all monitored his situation.

Nixon's report claimed that Leeds would be prepared to get close to a £30m fee for his services, as it was claimed that this was Saints' valuation of Fernandes as of May 23rd, as Daniel Farke's men see the playmaker as a priority, whilst Palace and Villa's interest depends on further transfer activity.

However, A Bola has freshly reported that Southampton are looking for a much greater sum as Still prepares for a critical off-season rebuild ahead of his first job in the English game after earning a strong reputation in France and Belgium.

A new valuation figure isn't disclosed in the report, but it has been questioned whether Forest, Palace and Leeds would entertain the thought of parting with such a sum, whilst Sporting are also keeping a close watch on developments as a result of a clause which would see them receive 10 percent of the profit gained from the initial £15m transfer.

New Mateus Fernandes transfer claim could be a blow for Leeds, Nottm Forest & Crystal Palace

Whilst Palace, Forest and, potentially, Villa could all offer Fernandes the chance to play in either the UEFA Europa League or Conference League next term, such developments could be an added blow when taking the playmaker's recent comments into account.

The highly-rated prospect was asked whether he will return to SO14 after his current international exploits, and he responded: "I have a contract with Southampton, so I think so."

"The next season will be different, I hope. Maybe we can play much better and win many, many games. We will work for that, train for that and I think we can do much better than this year."

This will be music to the ears of supporters and Still, who will believe that Fernandes can be one of the Championship's leading lights next season as pressure will immediately be on Saints to deliver a promotion bid and right the serious wrongs of the past year.