United in contact with West Ham over £80m Fernandes as Maguire lands podcast role

Manchester United have opened talks with West Ham United over a potential move for midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with the Hammers placing an £80m price tag on the Portugal international, according to reports from ESPN and The Times.

The approach follows United’s £38.8m agreement to sign Atalanta midfielder Ederson, and manager Michael Carrick is understood to be targeting a second central midfield addition before the new season. Casemiro’s departure has left a significant gap in the engine room, with United returning to Champions League football next campaign.

United have reportedly reached an agreement on the overall package for Fernandes, though West Ham’s valuation represents a substantial outlay. The 22-year-old made a strong impression during his debut season at the London Stadium, and Arsenal have also been credited with an interest in the Brazilian-born Portuguese midfielder, meaning United face competition if they are to secure his signature.

West Ham’s willingness to sell is partly driven by financial necessity. Relegation from the Premier League is expected to leave a £100m hole in the club’s finances, potentially forcing a series of player sales across the squad.

Separately, Harry Maguire will spend his summer in a media role after being omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s 26-man England squad for the World Cup. The 33-year-old centre-back is set to appear as a guest on The Rest is Football podcast, fronted by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, who will broadcast across 40 episodes from a studio overlooking New York’s Times Square. It is the second successive major tournament Maguire has missed, having been ruled out of Euro 2024 through injury.