Manchester United Shift Focus to Mateus Fernandes After Elliot Anderson Exit
Manchester United’s summer midfield plan has taken a sharp turn. Elliot Anderson is off the table. Mateus Fernandes is suddenly front and centre.
INEOS, now driving football operations at Old Trafford, have walked away from Newcastle’s Anderson after Nottingham Forest’s £130million valuation made any deal untenable. United are refusing to be dragged into a bidding war at those figures, and the message from inside the club is clear: value or nothing.
That stance was underlined on Tuesday morning by Tyrone Marshall, Chief Manchester United correspondent for the Manchester Evening News. Posting on X at 7:59am on June 11, he wrote: “Manchester United unwilling to pay £120million for Elliot Anderson and won’t be drawn into a bidding war. They want players who want to join them and, as it stands, they are focusing on other targets, with Mateus Fernandes at the top of the list #mufc”.
The focus has now swung firmly to east London.
Fernandes rises to the top of United’s list
With West Ham United relegated to the Championship, the future of Mateus Fernandes was always going to attract attention. Now it is becoming one of the defining stories of the early window.
The 21-year-old Portugal international midfielder has emerged as a leading target for United, and the club have already moved beyond the exploratory stage. Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that United are in “official contact” with the player’s camp and are actively preparing a proposal to send to West Ham.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Manchester United are in official contact with the agent of the player. Manchester United already started the conversation with the agent to start preparing a bid to West Ham, so Man Utd are for sure in conversations with Mateus Fernandes.
“So, we have to take this into consideration and then see how other clubs will react because there are more clubs, not only Man Utd, not only Real Madrid, so it’s going to be an interesting race surely.”
The race is already crowded.
TalkSPORT journalist Ben Jacobs has backed up the picture of advanced contact on the player side, reporting that United are in talks with Fernandes’s representatives. He added that PSG and Arsenal “hold appreciation” for the midfielder, while Real Madrid are the latest heavyweight to make contact.
At 3:43pm on June 11, Jacobs wrote on X: “Movement expected on Mateus Fernandes’ future this month. Manchester United already in talks on the player side. PSG and Arsenal also hold appreciation. Real Madrid the latest suitor to make contact. West Ham want double the £38m+£4m they paid, but despite this valuation as sale is expected.”
West Ham dig in over price
West Ham’s stance is equally bold. Relegation has not forced them into a fire sale; instead, they have moved to protect one of their most valuable assets.
Romano reported earlier this month that the London club have set a clear price. Posting on X at 7:04pm on June 8, he said: “Understand Matheus Fernandes price tag has been fixed by West Ham in a meeting with his camp: £85m. Manchester United in contact with player side, more clubs also attentive and keen.”
That £85m figure roughly matches Jacobs’ claim that West Ham want double the £38m plus £4m they originally paid. It is a Premier League price for a Premier League asset, even if the club now finds itself in the Championship.
For United, it represents a serious financial decision. They have already stepped away from Anderson on cost grounds; now they must decide how far to push for a player they regard as a top target in a key position.
Player keen, competition fierce
On the player’s side, the signals are encouraging for United. TEAMtalk reported on May 14 that Fernandes is “extremely keen” on a move to Old Trafford. The same report stated that United already have a deal in place with Atalanta for Ederson Silva, pointing to a significant reshaping of Erik ten Hag’s midfield options if both transfers come off.
Fernandes is also said to relish the idea of lining up alongside his Portugal international teammate Bruno Fernandes at club level. That potential partnership – creativity and leadership from the captain, energy and dynamism from the younger man – is exactly the kind of on-pitch chemistry United’s recruitment team are trying to build.
The problem? United are far from alone at the table. Arsenal, PSG and Real Madrid all retain interest, according to Jacobs, and are monitoring developments as West Ham wait for someone to meet their valuation.
United have made the first real move, going early on the agent side and preparing a formal bid. The next few weeks will show whether their new, disciplined transfer strategy can deliver a marquee midfield signing without being dragged back into the chaotic, overpaying habits of the past – or whether another of Europe’s giants will pounce while Old Trafford hesitates.
