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Manchester United’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, is personally eager to bring West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes to Old Trafford, as reported by two reliable sources.

The Red Devils already have an agreement in place to sign Brazilian midfielder Ederson Silva from Atalanta, who is expected to replace his compatriot Casemiro in manager Michael Carrick’s squad.

In addition, United are confident of landing Elliot Anderson, though a previous bid from Manchester City for the player was unsuccessful.

However, with Nottingham Forest valuing Anderson at over £100 million, United are considering more affordable options in the market.

Mateus Fernandes has emerged as one of the key targets under consideration by Manchester United.

Reports from May indicated that United had already established contact with Fernandes’s representatives, with the player said to be ‘extremely keen’ on a move to Old Trafford.

West Ham are demanding £80 million for the Portuguese international, despite being relegated from the Premier League and set to compete in the Championship next season.

Recent updates suggest that Manchester United are intensifying their pursuit of Fernandes, with Jason Wilcox personally driving efforts to secure a deal for the 21-year-old midfielder during the 2026 summer transfer window.

According to The Guardian, Wilcox is personally ‘monitoring’ Fernandes as a potential addition to strengthen Carrick’s midfield options.

The report further claims that United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is prepared to match Fernandes’s current West Ham wages for the 2026/27 season. The midfielder currently earns £70,000 per week, though his salary will be halved following West Ham’s relegation.

Wilcox previously played a crucial role in bringing Fernandes to Southampton in 2024, having laid the groundwork for the transfer before departing his role as the Saints’ director of football.

TEAMtalk has reported that Wilcox is so determined to bring the West Ham star to Manchester United that he has personally reached out to the player’s agents.

The trusted transfer outlet added that Wilcox’s long-standing relationship with Fernandes ‘could prove decisive’ as United aim to fend off competition from other interested clubs.

Wilcox has been closely following Fernandes’s performances at West Ham and is said to be highly impressed by his progress.

The United director believes the talented youngster is ready to make the step up and become a key figure at Old Trafford.

TEAMtalk further noted: ‘Crucially for Manchester United, Wilcox has personally maintained contact with Fernandes’s camp regarding his future. These discussions have strengthened United’s position, and there’s a belief within Old Trafford that they would be difficult to beat if the final decision rests on convincing the player.’

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed that Manchester United are actively working on a deal for Fernandes.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano stated: “I can guarantee two things. Manchester United are in direct conversations with Mateus Fernandes’s representatives. They made contact within the last 48 hours to discuss the potential transfer fee, structure of the deal, and salary details.”