Report: M. Fernandes favors Manchester United, willing to turn down Arsenal and PSG! West Ham's minimum asking price could be as high as £60 million.

According to British reports, West Ham's Portuguese midfielder Matheus Fernandes considers Manchester United as his preferred destination for a summer move. The 21-year-old is anticipated to depart the Hammers in the transfer window, and with the team relegated, they must generate £150 million from sales.

M. Fernandes has performed well for West Ham this season, attracting attention from numerous European clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, PSG, and Atlético Madrid. However, the young Portuguese talent is eager to join Manchester United, where his idol and compatriot Bruno Fernandes plays.

Manchester United believes M. Fernandes is capable of succeeding Casemiro or Bruno Fernandes, given his versatility in midfield and significant potential. British media say that Bruno Fernandes has also recommended his compatriot to the club, and United will submit a bid to West Ham in the coming weeks.

It should be stressed that although they share the same last name and both played for Sporting Lisbon, the two Fernandes are not related.

Bruno Fernandes is from Maia in the Porto metropolitan area, while M. Fernandes hails from Olhão in the Algarve region, coming through the youth system of local club Olhanense before joining Sporting CP's academy in 2016 and later moving to the Premier League. However, in the national team, when M. Fernandes made his Portugal debut on April 1, 2026, he replaced Bruno Fernandes as a substitute.

Last summer, M. Fernandes joined West Ham from another recently relegated Premier League side, Southampton, for a fee of £38 million plus £4 million in add-ons. The contract also includes a 15% sell-on clause for Southampton if he is transferred again.

Therefore, West Ham must sell M. Fernandes for at least £48.5 million to break even on the books. To make a profit, a price above £50 million is the absolute minimum. According to rumors, West Ham's asking price is £80 million, but the deal may eventually be concluded around £60 million.

This price would set a new record for a Championship player transfer, surpassing the previous mark held by M. Fernandes' former Southampton teammate Romeo Lavia, who moved from St Mary's to Chelsea for £53 million plus add-ons. Whoever acquires M. Fernandes, the fee will certainly exceed that figure, as West Ham are not willing to sell cheaply.

A report from iPaper suggests that Manchester United could act as early as next week and hope to reach an agreement before the World Cup. Of course, that may be difficult, as the Red Devils are famously slow in negotiations. However, it is clear that United's valuation does not exceed £65 million.

Since M. Fernandes was not included in Portugal's World Cup squad, Manchester United will have more time to operate during the summer window. The player will naturally be disappointed to miss the World Cup, but this decision benefits United's plans. If M. Fernandes joins, he can negotiate without disruption, and once the transfer goes through, he will be able to enjoy a full pre-season with his new team, speeding up his adaptation.

It is worth noting that Manchester United originally planned to sign three new midfielders this summer, with the top tier costing around £80 million, the second tier £40 million, and the third tier £20 million. However, as is well known, United's signings are subject to a "Man United tax," meaning each tier's new arrival may carry a premium of about £10 million.

Many fans hope that Manchester United can sign Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United for £86 million, bring in M. Fernandes for £60 million, and finalize the already essentially confirmed first signing of Ederson for £38 million, totaling around £184 million. After subtracting potential add-ons, the expenditure would be roughly in line with the budget of £150 million.