Manchester United target Mateus Fernandes as West Ham demand £80m to sell

Manchester United are monitoring West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes ahead of the summer transfer window, though the Hammers are determined to retain the 21-year-old as they push for an immediate return to the Premier League, according to The Athletic.

West Ham, now competing in the Championship following their top-flight relegation, have set a valuation of at least £80m for Fernandes and have not yet received a formal approach from any club. The east London side want him to remain at the London Stadium for the 2026/27 season as part of their promotion bid.

Fernandes is one of several midfield targets United are pursuing as they prepare for Champions League football and plan for life without Casemiro. Atalanta’s Ederson appears close to joining Old Trafford for around £38m, while Fernandes would cost more than double that figure. United’s original top midfield target, Elliot Anderson, has been ruled out as too expensive, with the Newcastle player considered more likely to join Manchester City.

Two factors could work in United’s favour should they push for a deal. Fernandes left Southampton last summer after their Premier League relegation, suggesting he has little appetite for another season in the second tier. His absence from Portugal’s World Cup squad also means United could potentially finalise a deal early in the window without international commitments complicating negotiations.

Should Fernandes prove unattainable, United have identified alternatives including Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali — though all three carry similarly large price tags.

Beyond midfield, United are also weighing up a move for Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, while West Ham’s Crysencio Summerville — linked with Liverpool and Aston Villa — is another option under consideration. Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall is also of interest to the Old Trafford club, though the Magpies’ need to sell has eased following Anthony Gordon’s £69m move to Barcelona.

West Ham, meanwhile, have confirmed that head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will remain in charge for next season. El Hadji Malick Diouf, a former Southampton team-mate of Fernandes, is also on United’s radar as a full-back option following Patrick Dorgu’s repositioning as a winger.