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Manchester United are proceeding with caution in their attempt to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes.

Reports from Sky Sports last week indicated that United were preparing an initial bid for the Portuguese midfielder. However, as of now, the Red Devils have not yet formally submitted their offer.

The biggest obstacle currently appears to be West Ham’s high valuation of Fernandes, despite the club’s widely reported financial difficulties following their relegation to the Championship.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano provided further insight into the ongoing negotiations between Manchester United and West Ham United.

According to Romano, United are in “direct contact” with Fernandes’ representatives, and the player himself is “very keen” on a move to Old Trafford. It is believed that talks over personal terms are progressing positively.

West Ham had signed the 21-year-old Portuguese playmaker from Southampton last summer for just under £40 million.

Romano added that the London club initially valued Fernandes at £100 million but noted that “the expectation is that they could close the deal around £85 million, not less than this.”

Manchester United are reportedly negotiating to pay below that figure and are said to be “not in a rush.” However, with other clubs showing interest in Fernandes, the Red Devils may need to speed up their efforts to prevent another club from hijacking the deal.

West Ham’s firm stance in negotiations is particularly notable given that earlier this year, in February, the club publicly acknowledged they would need to sell players during the summer transfer window, even if they managed to avoid relegation. This came after the Hammers reported a financial loss of £104.2 million for the previous fiscal year.

If Manchester United maintain a disciplined approach and a bidding war does not break out, Fernandes could end up making the move to Old Trafford for a more reasonable price than the one currently being quoted in East London.