Man Utd & Tottenham 'both in talks' with Mateus Fernandes as West Ham refuse to budge on huge asking price for Portuguese midfielder

Negotiations underway for midfielder

According to

West Ham are determined to

Manchester United and Spurs both in talks with Mateus Fernandes and West Ham.

Suggestions the player has decided on a club are premature as of this morning.

Spurs have held advanced talks with the player, while Manchester United discussions ongoing since May.

Both clubs are… pic.twitter.com/8tpvlxPJLB— Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 27, 2026

Tottenham push as rivals hesitate

Spurs are reportedly willing to meet a valuation of around £80m to back manager Roberto De Zerbi ahead of the upcoming campaign. Securing Fernandes would add significant technical quality to the midfield engine room in North London.

Conversely, United face a major dilemma in their pursuit. The Old Trafford club have zero intention of matching the astronomical demands set by West Ham, nor will they allow themselves to be drawn into an exhausting bidding war. United must quickly decide whether to match their rival's financial commitment or abandon their pursuit for cheaper alternatives.

Carrick faces major rebuilding task

The urgency at Old Trafford is being heavily driven by Carrick, who is determined to overhaul his options following the departure of Casemiro. With limited senior central midfielders available, Fernandes fits the profile perfectly after his rapid development.

However, United's reluctance to spend heavily risks leaving the squad threadbare. Speaking about the transfer window, Carrick said in May: "There's obviously work to do. 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."

What next for Fernandes?

Further clarity is expected soon regarding the future of Fernandes. According to Jacobs, this is not a saga the clubs or the player want to drag out beyond July. Tottenham will focus on initiating formal negotiations to strike an agreement, while United must decided whether to make their interest more concrete or pivot to other targets.