Real Madrid falling behind as Manchester United agree personal terms with Mourinho-backed target | OneFootball

Real Madrid’s search for midfield reinforcements may have suffered a significant setback, with fresh reports suggesting Manchester United have moved into a commanding position in the race for Mateus Fernandes.

The Portuguese midfielder has attracted growing attention following an impressive individual season in England, and despite West Ham United’s relegation from the Premier League, interest in the 21-year-old has only intensified. 

Real Madrid have been monitoring the player for months, but recent developments indicate that the Spanish giants could now be facing an uphill battle.

According to journalist Alex Crook in TalkSport, Manchester United have already made substantial progress and are close to reaching a full agreement on personal terms with Fernandes.

Man United take control of the race

The latest update comes as a major step forward for Manchester United in what has become one of the most closely watched midfield pursuits of the summer.

Man United have agreed personal terms with Mateus Fernandes. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Fernandes joined West Ham only last year after arriving from Southampton in a deal worth an initial £38 million, and despite the club’s disappointing campaign ending in relegation, the midfielder’s stock has continued to rise.

His performances have convinced several top clubs that he is capable of playing at a much higher level, with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur both positioning themselves aggressively in the race.

Now, reports suggesting personal terms are effectively agreed place United in pole position.

As a result of these developments, the situation has grown increasingly complicated for Los Blancos.

Why Real Madrid were not quick?

It must be remembered that interest from Real Madrid has been genuine.

Real Madrid could miss out on their midfield target. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

Previous reports revealed that Jose Mourinho has discussed Fernandes internally and views him as a player with the qualities required to strengthen the midfield.

However, admiration has not translated into concrete negotiations, and one of the biggest obstacles is West Ham’s valuation. 

Despite dropping into the Championship, the London club is reportedly demanding around €90 million for the Portuguese midfielder, a figure that has forced potential suitors to carefully assess the situation.

Real Madrid, on their part, are not operating with an urgent need in midfield because the squad already contains multiple high-level options, making any new arrival dependent on potential departures first.