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A fresh report has disclosed which club, between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, is prepared to offer more in the pursuit of Matheus Fernandes from West Ham United.

After finalising a deal worth approximately £38 million to sign Ederson Silva from Atalanta, Manchester United have now shifted their focus towards strengthening their midfield options, with Fernandes emerging as one of their prime targets.

Despite West Ham’s relegation, 21-year-old Fernandes was one of the standout performers in the 2025/26 Premier League season and has drawn interest from several top-flight clubs.

Initially, Manchester United appeared to be the frontrunners for his signature. However, West Ham’s £85 million valuation has complicated negotiations, while reports suggest that Tottenham are also making a determined effort to secure the Brazilian midfielder.

If the competition for Fernandes boiled down to Manchester United and Tottenham, it would be reasonable to assume that the player might favour a move to Old Trafford. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Michael Carrick’s side remain firmly in contention for the deal.

Speaking on Tuesday, Romano said: “Manchester United have not stopped their discussions for Matheus Fernandes. The battle between Manchester United and Tottenham for Fernandes is still ongoing.

“Both Manchester United and Tottenham maintain daily communication with West Ham and the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes. As I mentioned, the player is open to joining either club, be it Tottenham or Manchester United.

“Ultimately, it depends on which club can reach an agreement with West Ham over the fee. The asking price is around £85 million or more, and the structure of payment terms will play a crucial role.”

Nevertheless, journalist Chris Wheeler has now reported that Tottenham ‘could be prepared to pay more’ than Manchester United to bring Fernandes to North London.

Meanwhile, reports from TEAMtalk suggest that Manchester United’s plan to complete a ‘triple signing’ of midfielders remains intact, even after Manuel Ugarte suffered a knee injury.

The report elaborates: ‘United were quick to express their public support for Ugarte, but TEAMtalk understands that internal discussions have already taken place to assess how the injury might influence the club’s transfer plans. According to sources, the impact is expected to be minimal. United had already designed an ambitious strategy to revamp their midfield this summer and remain fully dedicated to it despite Ugarte’s setback. TEAMtalk understands that the club’s plan has always been to recruit three central midfielders during the current window.’