Tottenham Hotspur has reached an agreement to sign Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United in a deal valued at £85m. This move comes after Spurs reportedly outbid Manchester United for the player’s services, with the fee being a guaranteed amount without additional add-ons. Fernandes is now set to undergo a medical examination with the North London club.
The £85m transfer fee for Fernandes would surpass Tottenham‘s previous club record of £65m, which was paid for Dominic Solanke in August 2024. This significant investment highlights Tottenham‘s determination in the current transfer window, especially after missing out on several key targets in the previous summer.
Manchester United had also shown strong interest in Fernandes but were reportedly unwilling to meet Tottenham‘s £85m offer. United‘s stance is to acquire players at what they consider to be the right valuation, and there were also uncertainties regarding Fernandes’ clear preference to play for the club.
Despite experiencing consecutive relegations from the Premier League with West Ham, Fernandes has been a highly sought-after player this summer. Both Manchester United and Paris St-Germain had expressed interest in the 21-year-old midfielder. His agent, Jorge Mendes, engaged in discussions with both Tottenham and Manchester United regarding his client’s future.
Tottenham‘s pursuit of Fernandes followed their unsuccessful £80m bid for Sandro Tonali from Newcastle. Tonali, who has four years remaining on his contract, extended his deal with Newcastle after serving a 10-month ban for breaching the Football Association‘s betting rules.
This transfer represents a swift start to the summer transfer market for Tottenham, who have already secured four new players. Last week, they agreed to a deal for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who will join on a free transfer once his contract with Burnley expires on 1 July.
Dubravka, a 37-year-old Slovakia international, is one of several defensive reinforcements. Other additions include Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, both arriving on free transfers from Bournemouth and Liverpool respectively, and Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who was signed from Brighton for £52m.
Decision-makers at West Ham reportedly view Fernandes as one of the top young talents in the Premier League from the last season, with potential to reach the level of Declan Rice, who was sold to Arsenal for £105m in 2023.
Fernandes’ playing style is characterized by his tough tackling and high-intensity running. He was among the top 10 Premier League midfielders for distance covered last season. While he was initially seen as a more advanced player, his former coach at Southampton, Simon Rusk, noted his desire to play as an all-round midfielder, specifically as a number eight.
His performances at West Ham saw him primarily deployed in a hybrid role between a number six and a number eight, showcasing his improved game intelligence, strength, tenacity, and stamina.
Meanwhile, Manchester United has agreed a £35m deal with Atalanta for Ederson, though his arrival has been delayed due to a late call-up to the Brazil World Cup squad. United‘s plans to sell Manuel Ugarte are on hold due to his serious injury while on World Cup duty with Uruguay. United‘s players are scheduled to return for pre-season training on 9 July.
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Source: bbc.com
