Manchester United bets on Mateus Fernandes and expands transfer budget

Manchester United are speeding up their summer reorganization and have named West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes as their main midfield target. According to the Daily Mail, the 21-year-old Portuguese is at the top of the shortlist and discussions have already been held with his entourage. Personal terms would not be a stumbling block once clubs get closer to an agreement.

United were previously linked with a move for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson, but the club are said to be reluctant to enter a costly bidding war. Manchester City is said to have already seen a bid of £120 million for Anderson fail, after which United shifted its focus to alternative reinforcements. In that context, despite missing the Portuguese World Cup selection, Fernandes is considered one of the most coveted midfielders on the European market. Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are also mentioned, but United are said to have put themselves in a strong starting position.


The situation at West Ham could determine the outcome. The club is under financial pressure to generate income from outgoing transfers before the end of the month. Fernandes is one of the most valuable players in the squad. At the same time, clubs are reluctant to approach the asking price of around £80 million; United hopes that this commitment will increase as the transfer window progresses.

To create space for new signings, United is working on both inbound and outbound movements. The club already picked up Ederson from Atalanta for around £39 million, but further reinforcements require sales. In addition, United recently completed a refinancing package: part of the debt was extended until 2031, total borrowing capacity was increased and additional liquidity was released for general operations. That could give the club more flexibility to make moves on the transfer market in the coming weeks.

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