Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa will have to fork out €65 million to sign West Ham United sensation Mateus Fernandes.
Mateus Fernandes has taken his game to the next level since joining West Ham United, and his consistent performances have placed him on the radar of a number of English clubs. According to a report from Fichajes, Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa are all keen on signing the Portuguese international.
While they seem quite serious about their pursuit, securing his services won’t be easy, as the Hammers want at least €65 million for their midfield sensation. With his contract running until 2030, West Ham will certainly have the upper hand in any negotiations.
Fernandes made quite a name for himself while his performances for Southampton, and on the back of it, the London club paid €44 million to sign him last August. He has managed to establish himself as a key figure at the club in no time.
The 21-year-old has featured in a total of 32 matches and has racked up over 2,500 minutes. Fernandes has even contributed towards seven goals. While he prefers playing as a central midfielder, he has featured in a variety of roles in the centre of the park.
Fernandes will cost a fortune
He has impressed one and all with his exceptional defensive awareness and his ability to impact the game on both ends of the pitch. While West Ham are reluctant to negotiate his departure, they have set a massive asking price of €65 million for the youngster, whose current value is around €35 million.
Despite the high price tag, a number of rival clubs are keen on his signature. Chelsea, Manchester United and Aston Villa are all keen on having him in their ranks. The Blues consider him a perfect fit for their project, which revolves around signing the best young players.
They particularly value his ability to break lines and his defensive work rate. They see him as an ideal modern-day midfielder. With Enzo Fernandez’s future uncertain amidst interest from Real Madrid, Chelsea consider the West Ham star to be a perfect replacement.
United and Villa could rival Chelsea
If the World Cup winner ends up leaving them, the Blues could go all out for the Portuguese international. They are planning to make a move as early as possible to avoid a bidding war. But they will still face stiff competition from Manchester United and Aston Villa.
Unai Emery wants an upgrade in the centre of the park, and Fernandes could be a great acquisition for them for both the short and long run. The Spanish manager would love to work with a versatile star like the 21-year-old.
Meanwhile, United are looking to revamp their midfield, and with Casemiro leaving, Fernandes could take his place in their team. Since he is still quite young, the Portuguese midfielder could become one of their mainstays going forward.