West Ham owner insists club will not sell Bowen or Fernandes despite United interest

West Ham director Daniel Kretinsky has publicly declared the club’s intention to hold on to Jarrod Bowen and Mateus Fernandes this summer, pushing back against reports linking both players with a move to Manchester United.

Kretinsky, speaking to The Times, was unequivocal about the club’s position following West Ham’s relegation to the Championship. “We have a very credible strategy,” he said. “We don’t need to sell the players for financial reasons. We are doing this to make sure we are promoted back to the Premier League immediately. That is our only goal.”

The Czech billionaire added that key players had been spoken to directly and were waiting to see whether the club’s project was credible. “They need to see that our project is real and serious. Promotion is our only goal.”

Both Fernandes and Bowen had emerged as targets for United as the summer window opened, with the club’s relegation raising the prospect of a fire sale at the London Stadium. Reports had placed a valuation of around £80 million on Fernandes, with United said to have moved ahead of Arsenal in the race to sign the Portuguese midfielder. Bowen, 29, is contracted at West Ham until 2030, but his future had been cast into doubt by the drop to the second tier, with United and Liverpool both mentioned as potential suitors.

Kretinsky’s intervention signals that West Ham intend to fight hard to keep their squad intact as they mount an immediate promotion push, though the club’s ability to resist bids — particularly for Fernandes at that valuation — will depend on how the window develops.

United, meanwhile, have already made one significant midfield addition this summer, agreeing a deal to sign Atalanta’s Ederson for an initial fee of £35 million, with add-ons taking the total package to £38.8 million. The departure of Casemiro on a free transfer has left the club in need of further reinforcement in the engine room, keeping Fernandes firmly on their radar despite Kretinsky’s stance.