Mateus Fernandes has been granted permission to leave West Ham United following internal discussions triggered by the club’s relegation.
Interest in the midfielder is already building across Europe. Manchester United have made contact with West Ham and are weighing up a formal bid, while Arsenal have also registered interest and are assessing a potential offer.
Liverpool are tracking developments closely, and Paris Saint-Germain have entered the contest, with the player understood to be open to a move to the French champions.
West Ham are initially seeking in excess of 80 million pounds, although early proposals are expected to begin nearer 60 million plus add-ons. The Championship transfer record stands at 53.6 million pounds, paid by Chelsea to Southampton for Romeo Lavia in 2023.
Relegation has significantly weakened West Ham’s bargaining position, increasing the likelihood of a deal below valuation as financial pressures intensify.
Up to nine players could depart in a squad overhaul, with the potential sale of Fernandes viewed as an important opportunity to generate profit and support rebuilding efforts.
Fernandes is widely regarded as one of Europe’s leading young midfielders, praised for his technical quality, vision and tenacity, and stylistically compared to Joao Neves by Paris Saint-Germain sources.
Replacing him is expected to be difficult given his importance and overall quality. Manchester United may hold a slight edge due to the player’s admiration for a current United star he hopes to play alongside.
