Manchester United aims to secure M. Fernandes for £50 million! Contract details with Ederson revealed, with the biggest hurdle being themselves

West Ham's drop to the Championship is a significant boost for Manchester United, who anticipate signing midfielder Matheus Fernandes for a lower transfer sum. Relegated for the first time in 14 years, the Hammers will inevitably face a exodus of regular starters, drawing interest from numerous top-flight sides.

As reported by the Daily Telegraph, the 21-year-old M. Fernandes is essentially confirmed to depart. Manchester United hopes to land him for £50 million; West Ham initially valued him above £80 million, but their failure to avoid relegation forces them to accept a smaller fee.

Following relegation, West Ham faces financial difficulties, having posted a loss of £104 million in the 2024/25 season and potentially another nine-figure loss this campaign. Consequently, the club must offload players to offset deficits, with M. Fernandes, Bowen, and Diouf being valuable assets.

A product of Sporting Lisbon's academy, M. Fernandes has recorded 5 goals and 5 assists in all competitions. He can operate as a defensive midfielder or in the number 10 role. His pass accuracy stands at 87%, and he is solid defensively, averaging nearly 6 duels, 3 tackles, and 5 successful interceptions per game.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes rates his former Sporting colleague highly and has strongly urged the club to sign him. M. Fernandes looks up to B. Fernandes as a role model and has expressed a preference for joining Manchester United over other clubs.

According to The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell, Manchester United aims to finalize the signing of their first new midfielder by the time the summer window opens on June 15. The 26-year-old Atalanta midfielder Ederson is currently the player with the most advanced negotiations.

Manchester United has reached a verbal agreement with Ederson on personal terms. After being omitted from Brazil's World Cup squad, the Brazilian's sole focus is awaiting an official bid from the Red Devils. A United delegation has already traveled to Italy for formal discussions with Atalanta.

However, the biggest obstacle to Ederson's transfer is Manchester United itself! The club is still internally debating whether to proceed with the deal. If the transfer department gives the go-ahead, his arrival could be finalized quickly, as neither the fee nor wages present a problem.

It is reported that Ederson is willing to accept a backup role, with his contract terms reflecting that of a squad player. The Brazilian defensive midfielder would receive a four- or five-year deal with a weekly salary of £125,000, including performance-based incentives.

That wage level matches current Manchester United players such as Amad Diallo, Mazraoui, Ugarte, and Leny Yoro, who are all key rotational options.

Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano stated: "We know that Ederson is waiting for Manchester United to make a move, and a personal agreement has been reached between him and the club. He is very willing to join. Over the past few days, United have held face-to-face talks with Atalanta in Italy, and they are aware that Ederson's asking price is €45 million."

It is worth noting that the rumors about Manchester United signing Ederson are mainly from Italian media; more authoritative outlets like the BBC, Sky Sports UK, or The Athletic have not yet reported the deal. This suggests that Ederson is still some way from actually joining United!

Romano explained: "Ederson is seeking a transfer. Manchester United has considered multiple options in midfield, not just him. This is one of the discussions. That's why many rumors are coming from Italy—because the United delegation is there with a task to negotiate for different players. Ederson is only one of them; there are more than three players."

The potential transfers being discussed by United's staff in Italy are believed to include current striker Joshua Zirkzee, defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte, and Rasmus Højlund, who is on loan at Napoli. According to the loan agreement, Napoli is obligated to pay €44 million to permanently sign Højlund.