Mourinho urges Real Madrid to hijack United's £80m Mateus Fernandes pursuit

Manchester United’s pursuit of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes faces a significant threat, with Jose Mourinho reportedly urging Real Madrid to hijack the £80m deal as the summer transfer window takes shape.

Fernandes, who endured a second consecutive relegation this season after dropping into the Championship with West Ham following their 18th-place Premier League finish, has attracted considerable interest despite his club’s struggles. United are understood to be among the frontrunners to sign the Portuguese midfielder, but Spanish outlet AS reports that Mourinho — who managed United between 2016 and 2018 — has recommended Fernandes to Real Madrid president Florentino Perez ahead of what is expected to be his return to the Bernabeu dugout.

Mourinho’s appointment at Real Madrid is contingent on Perez being re-elected as club president. Should that happen, the Portuguese coach is widely expected to take charge, and Fernandes has apparently been identified as a priority target.

United, meanwhile, appear close to completing their first signing of the summer. A £39 million deal for Atalanta goalkeeper Ederson has reportedly been agreed, providing Michael Carrick — confirmed as permanent manager following a third-place Premier League finish — with an early addition ahead of the club’s return to Champions League football.

On the broader transfer strategy, United CEO Omar Berrada offered a measured assessment of what supporters should expect this window. “We have to be really disciplined, it’s simple,” Berrada said. “We have a plan, we know what we can invest, and we have to stick to that. In some cases, we may decide to make an investment knowing it’s the right thing for not just the next two or three years, but the next 10 years.”

Berrada also pushed back on the idea of external pressure driving United’s recruitment. “It’s very important that you don’t let the market or the agents dictate what we should be doing,” he said, adding that the approach taken in last summer’s window would serve as a template going forward.

His comments suggest United will move deliberately rather than reactively — a stance that could prove costly if Real Madrid accelerate their interest in Fernandes before a deal can be finalised.