ไทย
English
中國人
One of the transfer window's most talked-about sagas looks to be reaching its conclusion, with Tottenham Hotspur poised to pip Manchester United to the £85 million (€98 million, $112 million) acquisition of West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes.
The Hammers dropped out of the top flight following a torrid 2025–26 season, yet Fernandes stood out as a standout performer in the middle of the park and earned a Premier League Young Player of the Season nod. The 21-year-old's performances drew interest from across the Premier League and further afield, with United and Arsenal leading the chase before Spurs entered the picture.
After weeks of back-and-forth speculation, The Athletic reports Tottenham have surpassed their rivals with a remarkable £85 million (€98 million, $112 million) proposal, meeting West Ham's valuation that proved too steep for United, who were unwilling to stretch to such a figure for the Portuguese international.
The £85 million is reported to be a guaranteed sum, and Fernandes, who contributed four goals and four assists while featuring in every Premier League fixture last season, ultimately chose to be part of Roberto De Zerbi's project in north London.
How Fernandes Fits at Tottenham Hotspur
On the surface, Tottenham may not appear to be the most attractive landing spot for Fernandes. Spurs narrowly avoided the drop last season, finishing 17th in the Premier League for the second consecutive campaign.
De Zerbi also already boasts a number of midfield options, including Conor Gallagher, Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall. The latter has signalled his wish to depart, though recent reports suggest Tottenham has no plans to let the Swedish international leave.
Yves Bissouma, however, is departing on a free transfer, while Joao Palhinha returned to Bayern Munich following the conclusion of his loan.
Fernandes, who still has four years remaining on his West Ham deal, is expected to slot seamlessly into De Zerbi's midfield, where he can demonstrate his versatility, creativity and impressive range of passing. He is also willing to put in the hard yards in midfield and is known for his exceptionally high work rate.
Despite Spurs' struggles over the past two seasons, the move to north London represents a significant step up for Fernandes, who has spent much of his time in England excelling for sides punching below their weight.
Now set to perform under the floodlights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the young midfielder will face the challenge of helping the club recapture its former standards and firmly re-establish itself among the Premier League's 'Big Six.'
WIN FIFA WORLD CUP 2026™ FINAL TICKETS & OTHER PRIZES
Man Utd's Next Steps After Opting Against Big Bid
United entered the summer window seeking midfield additions following Casemiro's departure from Old Trafford as a free agent. The Red Devils have already struck an agreement for Atalanta midfielder Éderson — though the deal is yet to be finalised — but they had also set their sights on Fernandes.
Missing out on the Portuguese international, along with Elliot Anderson who is headed to Manchester City, leaves United back at square one in their search for another midfielder to partner Kobbie Mainoo in the centre of the pitch.
SI answers is our AI answer engine trained on human-created content.
Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali and Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba have all been mentioned as targets, though securing a deal has been complicated by the fact that Manuel Ugarte — a player United had hoped to move on this summer — sustained a knee ligament injury during Uruguay's 1–0 loss to Spain at the 2026 World Cup.
He is anticipated to be sidelined for at least nine months, with any future transfer likely to command a lower fee.