Manchester United have already finalised an agreement with Atalanta for the signing of Ederson, and the club is expected to bring in two additional midfielders during the current transfer window.

Following the Brazilian’s arrival, attention has now turned to Mateus Fernandes, who has publicly expressed his wish to join Old Trafford this summer.

West Ham United, however, are proving to be a difficult negotiating partner. Despite their relegation from the Premier League, the Hammers are refusing to reduce their asking price for the Portuguese midfielder.

The Portugal international has attracted interest from several clubs, and the recently relegated side are hoping that competition among potential buyers will drive his market value higher — a situation Manchester United are keen to avoid.

Adding to the complexity, journalist Ramon Alvarez has reported that Real Madrid have now entered the race to sign the 21-year-old talent.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Alvarez stated that incoming Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is a strong admirer of Fernandes, his fellow countryman, and wants to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu if Aurelien Tchouameni leaves the club.

Interestingly, Tchouameni himself has been identified as a possible target for the Red Devils to replace Casemiro, given the specific skill set required to fill the Brazilian’s role in midfield.

However, concerns over Tchouameni’s high wages and his reluctance to leave Spain have posed challenges, making this latest development a welcome one for INEOS and Manchester United’s management.

This comes after Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had firmly denied any possibility of selling the French midfielder, even after his recent on-field altercation with teammate Federico Valverde.

It is well documented that the 20-time English league champions are planning a complete overhaul of their midfield, with Manuel Ugarte also expected to depart this summer.

For many United fans, the idea of signing both Mateus Fernandes and Tchouameni, alongside Ederson, would have been nothing short of a dream scenario.

However, if these latest reports are accurate, the club’s hierarchy may have to focus their efforts on securing just one major midfield signing. It remains to be seen which player INEOS and Erik ten Hag will prioritise as they look to strengthen the squad.