Big development in West Ham move to sign Mateus Fernandes - How much Southampton could receive now revealed | OneFootball

Mateus Fernandes is set for a move to West Ham from Southampton following a medical with the club.

Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes is set to complete a switch back to the Premier League with a medical with West Ham United booked in.

As reported by Mike McGrath via X, Fernandes is set for a medical with the London club after the two sides reached an agreement for the transfer of the 21-year-old.

West Ham set to sign Mateus Fernandes in £41m deal

Fernandes has played in each of Southampton's opening three Championship matches under new boss Will Still, but now looks as though he will be heading back to the Premier League after suffering relegation with the Saints last season.

The Portuguese midfielder was an ever-present at Saint Mary's last season as Southampton finished bottom of the league, playing 36 times, scoring twice and assisting four goals in his debut season in the English top flight.

Fernandes was signed by Southampton in the summer of 2024 for £15 million from Portuguese side Sporting CP on a five-year deal, yet looks set to leave the club after just one year, with reports confirming he's heading to West Ham for a medical ahead of his move.

Further reports confirm that the Saints have agreed a deal with the Hammers in the region of £38 million plus £3 million in add-ons for the Portuguese Under-21 international, in what will become one of Southampton's top five most expensive sales of all time.

West Ham will hope to have struck gold with Mateus Fernandes

West Ham have begun the season in dismal form, losing their opening match 3-0 away to newly-promoted Sunderland, followed by a 5-1 thrashing at home to Chelsea and then being knocked out of the League Cup with a 3-2 loss away to Wolves, despite leading 2-1.

This has put manager Graham Potter under immense pressure even at these early stages of the campaign, and seems to have turned to Fernandes to bolster his squad and help the Hammers climb the table.

West Ham have also been linked with Middlesbrough's Hayden Hackney in recent days, after the midfielder turned down a move to Ipswich Town earlier in the window, and has since stated he only wants to leave Teesside should a Premier League offer arise.

With Fernandes heading to the Hammers, it's unclear whether West Ham will continue to pursue a move for Hackney. They had needed midfield reinforcements, but their level of investment in that area that they were willing to commit to was unclear.

However, manager Potter and West Ham fans will be hoping that they have found a solution in the signing of Southampton's Fernandes as they look to find some positivity in what has been such a negative start.