Tottenham secure Fernandes in significant transfer
Tottenham have reached an agreement to sign Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham in a deal valued at £85m. This move sees the north London club outpace Manchester United, who were also pursuing the player but were unwilling to match the fee agreed by Spurs. The transfer fee is understood to be a guaranteed £85m, without additional clauses.
The 21-year-old midfielder was identified as a key target for Tottenham after their earlier £80m bid for Sandro Tonali was rejected by Newcastle. Fernandes has reportedly been granted permission to undergo a medical examination with Spurs.
This acquisition marks a rapid start to the summer transfer window for Tottenham, who have already secured four other players. Last week, the club finalised a deal to bring in goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a free transfer once his contract with Burnley concludes on 1 July.
Dubravka, a 37-year-old Slovakia international, joins other defensive reinforcements, including Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, both arriving on free transfers from Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively. Additionally, Dutch defender Jan Paul van Hecke was signed from Brighton for £52m.
Competition from Manchester United
Manchester United had also shown strong interest in Fernandes, with his agent, Jorge Mendes, engaging in discussions with both clubs. However, United maintained their stance of only acquiring players at what they consider to be the correct valuation and who demonstrate a clear desire to play for the club.
Sources indicate that United were not convinced of Fernandes’ unequivocal preference to join them. Ultimately, Manchester United chose not to meet the £85m valuation set by Spurs for the midfielder.
Despite experiencing Premier League relegations, Fernandes has been a sought-after player this summer, attracting interest from both Manchester United and Paris St-Germain. Decision-makers at West Ham reportedly view Fernandes as one of the top young talents in the Premier League from the previous season, with the potential to reach the calibre of Declan Rice, who moved to Arsenal for £105m in 2023.
Tottenham’s determination to secure Fernandes was evident, with reports suggesting they were prepared to match any offer made by Manchester United. This pursuit follows a previous transfer window where Spurs missed out on several key targets, including Bryan Mbeumo, who subsequently joined United.
Midfield strengthening and future outlook
The focus for Tottenham then shifted to strengthening their central midfield, a move that proved challenging with the pursuit of Tonali. The Italian midfielder has four years remaining on his contract with Newcastle after extending his deal following a ban for breaching betting rules.
For Manchester United, the priority at Old Trafford also involves reinforcing their central midfield. They have agreed a £35m deal with Atalanta for Ederson. United’s players are scheduled to return for pre-season training on 9 July.
The plan to sell Manuel Ugarte has been put on hold following his injury while on World Cup duty with Uruguay. Meanwhile, Netherlands striker Joshua Zirkzee remains at the club, and rumours regarding the departure of midfielder Mason Mount have been dismissed by sources.
Fernandes’ playing style, characterised by strong tackling and high-intensity running, has been noted by those who have worked with him. While he was initially seen in a more advanced role, he views himself as an all-round midfielder, or a number eight, which aligns with his defensive contributions and work rate.
His performances at West Ham last season saw him primarily deployed in a hybrid role between a number six and a number eight, showcasing his improved game intelligence and tenacity.
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Source: bbc.com
