Manchester United close in on West Ham's Mateus Fernandes as Arsenal miss out

Manchester United are set to win the race for West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with BBC Sport’s United reporter Simon Stone stating he would be “surprised” if the deal did not get done — beating Arsenal to a player who was one of the few bright spots in the Hammers’ relegated side.

Stone reports that United and West Ham are currently at a standoff, with the east London club insisting they are under no obligation to sell and demanding £80m for the 21-year-old Portuguese international. Despite that resistance, Stone believes the transfer could be concluded relatively quickly, partly because Fernandes was not selected for Roberto Martinez’s 26-man Portugal squad for World Cup 2026.

“I believe the club are in a bit of a stand off with West Ham United at the moment, who are adamant they don’t have to sell and want £80m,” Stone said. “However, that seems to be another deal that could be done reasonably quickly because Fernandes, like Ederson, didn’t actually make the cut for the World Cup.”

Fernandes received his first senior Portugal cap in April but missing the World Cup squad capped a difficult personal end to a season in which West Ham were relegated from the Premier League. That relegation significantly weakens the Hammers’ negotiating position: Fernandes has four years left on his contract, though relegation clauses may apply, and any Championship club would struggle to match the wages and ambition a top-flight move offers.

United head coach Michael Carrick, confirmed in the permanent role after guiding the club to a third-place Premier League finish and a return to the Champions League, is looking to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts next season. The club played just 40 fixtures in 2025-26 and are keen to complete early transfer business before World Cup 2026 disrupts the market.

Fernandes would arrive ahead of new signing Ederson, whose transfer is not expected to be finalised until the start of July. The midfielder joined West Ham last summer from Sporting CP, having spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Estoril, and previously endured relegation with Southampton at the end of his first season in England in 2023-24 before the same fate struck at West Ham in 2025-26.