Tottenham Hotspur is on the verge of pulling off a club-record transfer for Mateus Fernandes, and at least one former Manchester United star is going to be furious about it.
The 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder, currently at West Ham, has reportedly given his approval to join Spurs this summer. According to multiple reliable sources, including journalist Matteo Moretto, the deal is moving fast. Moretto posted early Thursday that Tottenham and West Ham are already negotiating, Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi has made Fernandes a priority, and the player himself has signed off on the move.
This is a massive blow for Manchester United. The Red Devils had been in the mix for Fernandes all summer, and Michael Owen publicly urged his old club to go get him. On June 12, Owen told Metro that Fernandes was exactly what United needed, calling him a perfect fit alongside Kobbie Mainoo and praising his age and skill set. Owen said he’d be spending the money on Fernandes if he were making the call.
Instead, it looks like United is going to watch him land in North London.
TEAMtalk reports that Tottenham is confident of sealing an agreement for around £85 million, which would make Fernandes the most expensive signing in club history. That price tag blows past the previous record, and it comes with Spurs reportedly offering substantially higher wages than United was willing to put on the table.
United isn’t completely out of the race yet. Talks are still ongoing. But with Fernandes having already chosen Tottenham and West Ham eager to cash in after their relegation to the Championship, the momentum is clearly with De Zerbi’s side.
Why Tottenham Is Pushing So Hard
De Zerbi has been clear about what he wants this summer. Midfield reinforcements are at the top of his list, and Fernandes fits the profile perfectly. He’s young, he’s proven in the Premier League, and his stock is actually weirdly high for a guy whose team just went down. That last part is key — West Ham’s relegation made Fernandes gettable in a way he wouldn’t have been otherwise.
For United, the Fernandes chase was always complicated. They already struck a deal with Atalanta for Ederson Silva. Casemiro is on his way out. Manuel Ugarte is also expected to leave. Michael Carrick’s midfield is getting rebuilt, but it looks like Fernandes won’t be part of it.
Owen had visions of a Fernandes-Mainoo partnership anchoring United’s midfield for years. Instead, he’ll have to watch that partnership happen at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, if it happens at all. That’s got to sting.
For now, it’s down to the fine print. Tottenham is negotiating payment terms with West Ham. Fernandes has said yes. De Zerbi is waiting. The only question left is how fast Spurs can get the paperwork done before something changes.
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