Man Utd shocked as their target player is valued at £80 million, with Premier League rivals also competing.
On 2 June 2026, Ben Jacobs, a renowned transfer market journalist, and The Sun, a prominent British tabloid, both reported that Manchester United, currently third in the English Premier League, are facing a new problem in their summer transfer plans.
Sources indicate that 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes, one of Man Utd's transfer targets, has been priced by West Ham United at a high £80 million, despite being acquired from Southampton last season for just £38 million plus a £4 million bonus.
Previously, Man Utd had allocated a budget of about £40-50 million to sign Mateus Fernandes after West Ham’s relegation from the Premier League. However, the "Hammers" are now hoping to fetch a price double what they paid to compensate for the substantial expected loss of revenue. Reports say West Ham must sell players to raise at least £100 million for the club.
Additionally, Man Utd faces key competition for Mateus Fernandes from other clubs. Reports reveal that Arsenal, the most recent Premier League champions, are also interested but hope to negotiate a lower transfer fee.
