Manchester United are prioritizing a move for West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with personal terms not expected to be a hurdle, according to Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg. The club is preparing an offer, though an initial bid is anticipated to fall short of West Ham’s £85 million valuation.
The pursuit of Fernandes comes as United reshape their midfield following the departure of Casemiro to Inter Miami and the expected sale of Manuel Ugarte. While they had previously shown interest in Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, the club has deemed the £120 million asking price too high. Sandro Tonali of Newcastle and Carlos Baleba of Brighton have also been identified as potential targets.
Fernandes, a Portugal international, has attracted attention from several top European clubs including Arsenal, PSG, and Real Madrid, but reports suggest he favors a move to Old Trafford. United are aware of his personal terms and anticipate a smooth agreement on that front should a deal with West Ham be reached.
Alongside Fernandes, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is emerging as a strong candidate to become United’s third midfield signing. The Telegraph reports that a move for Scott is contingent on Ugarte’s departure, which the club is actively pursuing. Scott, valued at £80 million by Bournemouth, is unlikely to sign a contract extension with the Cherries, increasing the possibility of a transfer this summer. Liverpool, managed by former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, are also monitoring Scott’s situation.
The expectation is that Manchester United will ultimately secure a deal for Fernandes, despite their initial offer being rejected, reflecting a common transfer strategy of starting with a lower bid.
