Rio Ferdinand thinks Manchester United will go for Aurelien Tchouameni after Mateus Fernandes blow | OneFootball

Rio Ferdinand has reacted after hearing that Tottenham Hotspur have pipped Manchester United to West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

Spurs are set to sign the Hammers star after agreeing to pay £85 million upfront for his services.

Man United were only keen to meet West Ham’s valuation by including several add-ons in a deal.

The Red Devils will now look elsewhere and Ferdinand believes they will go for Real Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni after Tottenham all but won the race for Fernandes.

“Man, I woke up to the news that Fernandes from West Ham could be going to Spurs,” the Man United legend said on X.

“Huge money. It’s thrown me. I put my neck out on it. I think Man United are holding the money back for one man, and that’s Tchouameni.

“If he becomes available in this market, Man United are not gonna miss – they can’t afford to miss with that one.”

Spurs have made a statement of intent by paying £85m for the 21-year-old Portuguese, and the Red Devils have to respond.

They reportedly only wanted to offer an initial £70m for him, with £15m in add-ons, but they could be willing to pay more for Tchouameni.

The France international could leave Madrid this summer, and he will not be short of suitors.

He could be the perfect replacement for Casemiro at the Old Trafford club, but it is not certain that he wants to leave the La Liga club right now or anytime soon.

Bournemouth star Alex Scott has also emerged as a contingency plan for Man United, but it could take up to £80m for a deal to get done.