Mateus Fernandes: When West Ham star will pick between United and Spurs | OneFootball

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are both locked in talks to sign Mateus Fernandes, with a deadline now emerging for a final decision from the West Ham United midfielder, according to a transfer expert.

Main Target at Old Trafford

The Red Devils have pivoted towards Fernandes as their priority target after a failed pursuit of Elliot Anderson, who looks set to join Manchester City in a record-breaking deal instead.

Sporting director sporting director Jason Wilcox is understood to be leading the drive for the 21-year-old, having previously signed him for Southampton, who he left last year to join West Ham for £38m.

Real Madrid superstar Aurélien Tchouaméni remains a ‘dream’ option for INEOS, but there is acceptance that luring the Frenchman from the Santiago Bernabéu will be as costly as it is difficult.

By contrast, West Ham’s relegation meant Fernandes was seen as a market opportunity, given they would be unable to demand top dollar for their prized asset with a need to raise significant income.

However, the East London club have stuck to their guns, placing an £85 million price tag on the Portugal international’s head. United value him closer to the £60 million mark, leading to weeks of protracted negotiations between the two clubs.

Fernandes is said to have given his approval to a switch to Old Trafford, with the prospect of playing alongside Bruno Fernandes in the Champions League of particular appeal to the Sporting Clube de Portugal academy graduate.

But the reticence to meet West Ham’s valuation has allowed Tottenham to storm into the race with an aggressive hijack. Despite the rivalry between the two London clubs, the Hammers are content to sell to the highest bidder – which looks set to be Spurs, with United beginning to explore alternative targets.

Tottenham are understood to be prepared to table an offer which reaches £85 million, though the exact parameters of payment may not be accepted by West Ham.

Deadline is set

Speaking to the United Stand, Ben Jacobs confirms each rival is continuing to negotiate with West Ham to strike a deal.

The talkSPORT reporter reveals Tottenham are willing to put “serious money” down to beat the Red Devils to the punch, leading to “optimism” in North London that their offer will be accepted first after receiving a green light from Fernandes.

Jacobs claims both clubs have “danced around” tabling offers in hopes of pressuring West Ham to accept a lower price through verbal proposals, but the next stage is now for an official bid to be presented.

However, he goes on to state West Ham’s resolve to hold out for a fee they deem acceptable has been bolstered by a £90 million cash injection from co-owner Daniel Křetínský. The Czech businessman has increased his share of the Hammers to 43% following David Sullivan’s decision to resign as chairman in the wake of serious historic allegations.

This financial boost has eased the pressure to balance the books at the London Stadium by 30 June, considered a key date suitors had in mind to try and leverage a cheaper deal for Fernandes. Regardless, Jacobs concludes that a decision on which offer the midfielder wants to accept is expected imminently, which will then influence that club’s ability to negotiate with West Ham.

“Hopefully in the next day or two, or certainly by the time we get to the end of the month, that direction of travel as to which club the player wants will be there, and then that club might be able to still shave some of the money off as far as the negotiations with West Ham are concerned.”

Final Thoughts

Increasingly, it looks as if Tottenham Hotspur’s willingness to pay over the odds for Fernandes is their only advantage in the race with Manchester United. Unfortunately for the powers that be in M16, it is the only one they need to seal a deal with West Ham, even if the player may prefer to wear red over white next season.

Should the choice come down to staying in East London in the Championship, or moving to North London to play for a ‘top six’ Premier League side, Fernandes will be forced to give up on a ‘dream’ move to the Theatre of Dreams in reluctant favour of the only option available to him.

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