£40m EPL star wanted at Man Utd ready to join forces with Bruno: “My biggest role model” | OneFootball

West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes is relishing the opportunity to play alongside Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.

The 21-year-old is a Sporting Club youth product who was climbing his way up the ranks when Bruno was the main star of the show at the Lisbon-based side before making the move to Old Trafford in January 2020.

DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL STRETTY NEWS APP FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES & BREAKING NEWS – STRAIGHT TO YOUR PHONE! ON APPLE & GOOGLE PLAY

The youngster then joined Southampton in the summer of 2024 for circa £14 million. Although the Saints endured a miserable Premier League campaign, Fernandes stood out, earning himself a £40 million transfer to West Ham United.

Mateus Fernandes identifies Bruno Fernandes as role model

Mateus is currently enduring a similar situation to last season. While the Hammers are involved in a relegation dogfight, he has managed to impress on an individual level, emerging as one of the few bright spots at the club this season.

The young midfielder’s exploits at East London have been rewarded with a maiden call-up for the senior Portuguese national team. The Selecao will play World Cup co-hosts, Mexico and the USA, in back-to-back friendlies during the international break.

Therefore, it remains to be seen if Fernandes will be able to earn his debut. After all, the Portuguese squad is blistering with top-notch players, especially in the middle of the park.

And yet, the young man did not hesitate to pick Bruno when asked to choose his role model.

“My role morel? The biggest reference right now is Bruno [Fernandes], because of the player he already is,” said the West Man player during his press conference via ABola.

“Even back in my time at Sporting, I used to watch him and try to learn. He plays in the same league as me, has a lot of experience with the national team and in the Premier League. I really try to study him. Without a doubt, he stands out.”

Could Mateus Fernandes join Bruno at Man Utd?

With United bracing themselves for a major midfield overhaul, the club has been linked with a flurry of potential targets. The most common names in the rumour mill have been Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali, and Bruno Guimaraes.

Nevertheless, Mateus Fernandes has apparently landed on the shortlist as well. The Olhao native is a modern midfielder who often operates as a box-to-box midfielder. So while he wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement for the departing Casemiro, he would add quality and depth to the middle of the park.

Moreover, a recent report highlighted how West Ham’s potential relegation could play in Man Utd’s favour, as the Hammers might be forced to sell some of their most prized assets, including Fernandes.

While the asking price for the young Portuguese remains to be seen, he would certainly cost significantly less than some of MUFC’s other top targets, as the likes of Tonali and Anderson reportedly have price tags north of £100 million.

And with United planning to enquire more than one midfielder, they’re unlikely to spend more than £200 million on two players.