Top News

Manchester United to Fast-Track Pursuit of West Ham Midfielder Mateus Fernandes After Relegation
Deepa Krishnaswamy | May 25, 2026 8:32 PM CST

Manchester United are preparing to accelerate their pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes following the East London club’s relegation from the Premier League.

West Ham’s demotion from the top division was confirmed on Sunday, bringing an end to their 14-year stay in the Premier League. With relegation now official, the Hammers are expected to approve several major player departures, having already planned to make sales even if they had managed to stay up.

Fernandes appears to be the most valuable asset likely to generate a substantial transfer fee, with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester United all expressing strong interest in the Portuguese midfielder.

Manchester United are reportedly ready to intensify negotiations as they aim to complete their summer transfer activity early. Fernandes’s omission from Portugal’s World Cup squad, combined with West Ham’s relegation, could help facilitate a quicker agreement between the clubs.

West Ham had initially placed a valuation of around £80 million on the 21-year-old, but the drop to the Championship may force them to accept a lower bid.

Fernandes joined West Ham from Southampton last summer for approximately £40 million and has been one of the few bright spots in a struggling season. The midfielder scored three goals and contributed four assists, while also ranking third in the Premier League for tackles won.

In addition to their interest in Fernandes, Manchester United are also pursuing a deal for Atalanta’s Ederson. The Italian club has confirmed that transfer discussions are ongoing with what it described as an ‘important club’.


READ NEXT
Cancel OK