Manchester United went into this summer thinking midfield would be the easy fix. Agree a deal for Ederson from Atalanta early, then pivot to a big-name playmaker. Simple, right?
It hasn’t worked out that way.
INEOS has cycled through targets like a teenager scrolling Netflix. Elliot Anderson was the guy until Manchester City showed up and Anderson made his preference clear. Then Sandro Tonali became the guy — until Newcastle’s asking price made INEOS flinch. Now they’ve landed on West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, and what was supposed to be a straightforward grab from a relegated club has turned into a full-blown bidding war.
West Ham isn’t budging
The Hammers went down but they’re not acting like it. They slapped an £80 million price tag on Fernandes and told everyone to pay up or shut up. United has spent weeks trying to find creative ways around that number — structured payments, add-ons, the usual tricks. West Ham isn’t interested.
And Tottenham just made things worse. According to the Daily Mail, Spurs have come in with serious intent and are willing to write the check United won’t. Their aggressive approach to this window has surprised some around the league. If Fernandes is open to playing for Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham will make it happen fast.
Old Trafford hopes Fernandes chooses them anyway
United is betting on the pull of the club itself. They’re pointing to Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, players who picked United over other suitors. The hope is Fernandes follows that path. But hope isn’t a transfer strategy.
They’ve already started building a backup plan. Bournemouth’s Alex Scott is on the radar, and according to Mark Critchley at The Athletic, United has done groundwork on him. Arsenal is also lurking, but Scott could be had for around £60 million — cheaper than Fernandes, even if the competition is stiff.
Bournemouth is trying to lock Scott into a new deal with a £75 million release clause. Given the noise around him, he’s probably not signing anything right now.
Fernandes is the dream. Scott is the practical alternative — a technical, press-resistant box-to-box midfielder who fits the modern game. Either way, United needs to make a decision soon. Tottenham isn’t waiting.
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