Tottenham Hotspur are stepping up their pursuit of West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes, aiming to outpace Manchester United in the race for his signature. Reports indicate that Spurs are ready to meet West Ham’s £80 million valuation for the 21-year-old, who is expected to leave following the club’s relegation from the Premier League. Meanwhile, Manchester United appear hesitant to engage in a costly bidding war and may consider backing out.

Tottenham are positioning themselves as favourites to sign Fernandes this summer, seeking to take advantage of West Ham’s demotion from the top flight. As per a report from The Times, senior figures at the North London club believe their rivals from Old Trafford will pull out if the price escalates beyond a certain point.

West Ham are understood to be holding firm on an asking price of around £80 million for Fernandes, who joined them from Southampton last August in a €44 million transfer. Although Manchester United have long viewed the young midfielder as a key target, they remain unwilling to enter a bidding contest, mirroring their approach in the case of Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson.

Under manager Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham are aggressively reshaping their squad ahead of the new season. The club have already completed the signings of defenders Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke, in addition to the recent acquisition of goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. Bringing in Fernandes would inject further creativity and dynamism into De Zerbi’s midfield setup.

Despite West Ham’s struggles, Fernandes delivered an impressive debut campaign in London, featuring in 38 matches across all competitions and netting four goals. Transfer specialist Matteo Moretto has suggested that Tottenham are nearing an agreement on personal terms with the player, who is keen to continue competing in the Premier League.

At Old Trafford, manager Michael Carrick faces a significant midfield challenge. With Casemiro’s contract set to expire next week, only Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte will remain as senior central midfielders. The club are targeting at least two new additions in the middle of the park, and Fernandes fits their profile perfectly following his rapid progression since leaving Sporting for €15 million in 2024.

Before joining West Ham, Fernandes made 46 appearances and scored four goals for Southampton, performances that earned him the move to East London. However, Manchester United’s caution in the market could leave Carrick with limited options. Reflecting on the club’s situation at the end of the season, Carrick said: “There’s obviously work to do. I think it’s quite clear, with certain players leaving, that we’ve got to rebuild a bit. It’s not more important than any other window, but it’s crucial for us as a football club to make the right steps forward.”

Tottenham are now expected to open formal discussions with West Ham to finalise a transfer agreement. With personal terms reportedly close to being settled, Spurs will aim to wrap up negotiations quickly to avoid any last-minute competition. Manchester United must soon decide whether to match Tottenham’s financial offer or redirect their focus towards more affordable alternatives before pre-season begins.