Tottenham outbid Manchester United for Mateus Fernandes with £80m offer as Red Devils face midfield crisis

Tottenham are emerging as frontrunners to sign West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes in a deal worth up to £80m, believing Manchester United will walk away if the price climbs too high.

Fernandes, 21, became available after West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League, with the club prepared to sell. Arsenal and Real Madrid had previously shown interest in the Portuguese midfielder, but both have since cooled their pursuit, leaving Spurs and United as the primary suitors.

According to The Times, Tottenham are willing to offer a larger fee than United, whose reluctance to be drawn into a bidding war mirrors their stance on Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson — a player Forest are reportedly valuing at a British record £130m package after rejecting two bids from Manchester City. Southampton will receive 15 per cent of whatever fee is agreed for Fernandes, thanks to a sell-on clause inserted when he moved to West Ham for £38m last summer.

The urgency at United is real. Casemiro’s contract expires next week, leaving Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte as the club’s only recognised senior central midfielders heading into a season that includes Champions League football. United are close to signing Atalanta’s Ederson for £35m, but manager Michael Carrick has made clear further reinforcements are needed — potentially three midfielders if Ugarte is sold.

“There’s obviously work to do,” Carrick said at the end of the season. “I know it’s quite obvious, there’s certain players leaving, that there’s a bit of work to do. It’s not any more important, this one, than the last one, or it’s what’s ahead of us as a football club to try and make the most of.”

Tottenham, meanwhile, are moving aggressively in the transfer market after surviving relegation on the final day at West Ham’s expense. Roberto De Zerbi’s side have already added defenders Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, as well as goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, signalling serious intent to rebuild quickly.

Despite West Ham’s turbulent season, Fernandes stood out with consistent performances and is viewed as one of the more coveted young midfielders in English football. Whether United are willing to match Tottenham’s ambition — or cede ground as they did with Anderson — could define the shape of their squad when the new season begins.