Why West Ham Are Convinced Mateus Fernandes Is Worth Every Penny of £85 Million

West Ham United are set to demand even more for their prized midfielder Mateus Fernandes than previously anticipated, with a fresh report indicating the asking price has risen to $113.9 million (£85 million).

This represents an increase of just under $7 million compared to earlier estimates for the 21-year-old, who is widely expected to depart West Ham following the club's drop from the Premier League to the EFL Championship last month.

A deal at that figure would place Fernandes firmly within the top 10 most expensive players ever offloaded by English clubs—surpassing even the 2009 world-record transfer that took Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United to Real Madrid.

Fabrizio Romano revealed on YouTube that West Ham have "decided" on the $113.9 million asking price, following preliminary contact between prospective buyers and the player's camp.

Man Utd 'in Talks' with Fernandes, Potential Competition

The transfer insider suggests that Manchester United, as part of their ongoing pursuit of midfield reinforcements, have made contact with Fernandes's representatives in recent days. This is typically the opening step toward a potential transfer, allowing the interested club to assess the player's willingness to move while also gauging wage demands to factor into the total cost.

According to Romano, United have "started the conversation" with those in the player's inner circle.

The Red Devils, who are in the closing stages of securing Atalanta and Brazil midfielder Éderson but may still require two additional signings, are not the sole club in the running.

"A lot of clubs" are reportedly monitoring the situation, both domestically and across Europe. Real Madrid are said to be among the interested parties, as midfield remains a position requiring significant attention heading into next season—with Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić yet to be adequately replaced.

Why Is West Ham's Mateus Fernandes Valuation So High?

Fernandes rose to prominence at Southampton during the 2024–25 campaign, only his second season competing at the top level. He caught the eye despite the Saints' relegation and moved to West Ham the following August for a reported fee of $56.8 million (£42 million) including add-ons.

The Portuguese midfielder, who has earned international caps but was left out of the 2026 World Cup squad, is ill-suited to Championship football after establishing himself across consecutive Premier League seasons.

However, West Ham have a substantial financial stake in Fernandes and must generate a sizeable return, as Premier League 'parachute payments' only partially offset the revenue lost through relegation.

A sell-on clause secured by Southampton during last year's sale also means the Hammers will not receive the full transfer fee—a reported 15% cut is owed to Fernandes's former club. This places added pressure on West Ham to maximise the sale price, as the bar for turning a genuine profit is considerably higher than it might first appear.

Most Expensive Players Sold by English Clubs

Quoted fees exclude add-ons, converted from GBP (£) to USD ($) at today's rate.