Manchester United keep fighting with Tottenham for £90m star

Manchester United transfer news: The Mateus Fernandes race heats up

Manchester United transfer news: Tug of war. That’s the only way to describe the current state of affairs regarding Mateus Fernandes. Two of the biggest outfits in the country are interested, and honestly, West Ham are loving every second of it. This isn’t just another rumour. It’s a proper standoff.

Ben Jacobs confirmed this Sunday that the lines are hot between London and Manchester. Spurs have put in the legwork, holding detailed chats with the player’s camp, but don’t you dare count United out just yet. The Red Devils have been knocking on the door since May and aren’t about to back down. Fabrizio Romano put it that the Hammers aren’t interested in romantic gestures or club preference. They’ve told the agent straight: whoever drops the most cash gets the man. It’s cold, hard, and business-focused.

The numbers justifying the madness

Why are clubs so desperate to spend nearly £90m on a 21-year-old? Look at the shift he put in last season. 36 Premier League appearances. 3 goals. 4 assists. Sure, the numbers look modest on paper, but he was playing in a side that was sinking like a stone for most of the campaign. He didn’t just survive; he flourished. That goal against Aston Villa? 29 seconds. Bang. He’s got that spark.

He managed a pass completion rate hovering around 88%, which is staggering when you consider how little of the ball his team actually saw. He was shielding a fragile defence, recycling possession, and still managing to get a nod for the Premier League Young Player of the Season. Then there’s the international stage. March 2026, senior Portugal debut, swapping onto the pitch for Bruno Fernandes. That’s not a bad trajectory.

West Ham are holding all the cards. They paid Southampton £40m last August, and with a 15% sell-on clause eating into their margin, they aren’t about to give him away. They want roughly £80m, but this is a bidding war now. Prices have a habit of climbing when two desperate clubs start throwing their weight around. United initially thought they could get him for £60m, but that looks like a pipe dream. The board might have to open the chequebook wider than they planned if they want to stop him heading to North London.

Read: Is it needed? Manchester United make direct contacts with €150m player’s representatives

The player has made it clear he likes the look of Old Trafford. Whether that counts for anything when West Ham is staring at a higher bid remains the million-dollar question. Nobody wants this dragging into August. Expect a resolution fast.