West Ham relegation softens £80m asking price for Mateus Fernandes as Man Utd circle

Manchester United are monitoring West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes this summer, with the 21-year-old’s value potentially dropping below the Hammers’ initial £80m asking price following their relegation to the Championship.

West Ham paid Southampton roughly £40m for Fernandes just 12 months ago, and despite a difficult collective season at the London Stadium, the Portuguese midfielder impressed individually — featuring in every Premier League fixture from mid-March onwards, aside from an 85-minute appearance against Wolves. That form attracted interest from United, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal, among others.

However, West Ham’s bargaining power has weakened considerably since their drop to the second tier was confirmed. Clubs negotiating with a relegated side carry an inherent advantage, and United’s recruitment team will be aware that the Hammers may struggle to hold firm on a nine-figure valuation.

United are planning to bring in at least two midfielders ahead of the 2026/27 season, with Casemiro set to leave when his contract expires. Atalanta’s Ederson appears to be the priority signing, with negotiations between the clubs already under way. Elliot Anderson of Nottingham Forest is also a target, though Forest’s £100m demand may price United out of that pursuit.

A broader shortlist of midfield options includes Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali — giving United’s recruitment team considerable flexibility in how they approach the window.

West Ham’s Jarrod Bowen has also been linked with a move to Old Trafford in recent days. The 29-year-old addressed supporters on social media following relegation, offering an apology and acknowledging the club fell short. “I could write loads trying to explain where it all went wrong this season, but honestly what you deserve from me is an apology,” Bowen wrote. “We just weren’t good enough. Simple as that.”

Whether Fernandes ultimately moves to United will depend on how far West Ham are willing to negotiate — and how many of their other targets United can realistically land before the window closes.