West Ham closing in on £17m transfer deal for Mateus Fernandes successor | OneFootball

West Ham are closing in on the signing of a replacement for Mateus Fernandes

West Ham are in the thick of the summer transfer window following the sale of Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham Hotspur.

The midfielder departed in a deal worth a reported £85 million just 12 months on from his arrival from Southampton.

The 21-year-old was a key figure in Nuno Espírito Santo’s side, and his exit will be a big blow for the London outfit.

West Ham will be targeting automatic promotion to the Premier League next season, having suffered relegation to the Championship with an 18th place finish in 2025/26.

Espírito Santo previously led Wolves to the second division title in 2018, and has not worked at this level in the years since.

Meanwhile, the Irons are back in the second tier for the first time since 2012, and will likely undergo a lot of transfer activity between now and 1 September’s deadline.

West Ham target Mateus Fernandes replacement as £17m deal close

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It has been reported by Portuguese outlet Record that West Ham have agreed a deal to sign Gustavo Sa from Famalicao.

It’s believed that the deal will amount to €20 million (£17.1 million), with the hierarchy at the London Stadium hoping he can replace Fernandes in the squad directly.

The Portuguese club were targeting a deal worth closer to €25 million (£21.4 million), but the Hammers were able to negotiate it down to a price that has now been agreed.

This will still be a record sale for Famalicao, with the midfielder making the switch to English football.

The 21-year-old made 32 appearances in the league last season, contributing four goals and two assists as the club earned a fifth place finish.

Sa has also been capped at U21 level for Portugal, earning a lot of praise for his performances with Famalicao after coming through their academy system.

How West Ham fans feel about Gustavo Sa agreement

West Ham fans are excited by the prospect of bringing Sa to the club for next season, claiming this would be a bargain signing.

Fans are optimistic that this is the kind of signing that can help the team gain promotion straight back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

However, not everyone is convinced that he will be an adequate replacement for Fernandes, even if fans from Portugal have praised his performances for Famalicao.

Gustavo Sa signing has potential for West Ham

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Sa is the same age as Fernandes, but hasn’t made the move to English football yet, so there are no guarantees that he will be able to have the same impact.

However, his performances in the Portuguese league show a lot of promise, and there is certainly a lot of excitement around him from Portugal.

A deal around the £17 million mark means he is reasonably priced, and has the potential to become a much more valuable asset if he can help West Ham earn promotion to the Premier League.

This is a move with a lot of promise, although the Irons will know that him working with Jorge Mendes means he is not someone that will be at the club long-term if he reaches his full potential.