Manchester United pursue Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes

Manchester United are targeting 21‑year‑old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes as a priority signing for the upcoming summer window. The player, currently at West Ham United, is listed at a price of around £80 million after West Ham’s relegation to the Championship, prompting United to proceed cautiously while the club evaluates its own financial position before the end‑June accounting deadline.

West Ham faces a reported £104 million loss for the last financial year and may need to sell players to meet Premier League and EFL financial regulations, making Fernandes their most valuable asset. United’s negotiations are further complicated by interest from other European clubs, notably Real Madrid, which has also expressed a desire to acquire the Portugal international.

The club’s broader transfer strategy includes managing the contract situation of striker Marcus Rashford, whose release clause is reportedly a gentleman’s agreement rather than a fixed figure, and planning for the departures of other senior players such as Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia.