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Tottenham Hotspur’s bold approach in the transfer market this summer could potentially cause frustration among key figures at Manchester United.

Earlier in the transfer window, Manchester United appeared to be leading the chase for West Ham United’s talented midfield orchestrator, Mateus Fernandes.

However, Tottenham Hotspur, who have already submitted an offer worth approximately £80 million for Sandro Tonali, have now made a strong move for Fernandes as they aim to steer clear of another relegation scare.

As reported by Claret and Hugh, both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are said to be “close” to finalising personal terms with Mateus Fernandes.

Nevertheless, neither club has yet tabled an official bid, with West Ham setting a steep £85 million valuation for the 21-year-old. It appears that both United and Spurs are trying to avoid a bidding war by persuading the player to choose their respective projects on merit.

In this regard, United seem to hold the advantage over their North London rivals, as Fernandes is known to be eager to play Champions League football and views United as his “dream move”.

The Portuguese youngster has reportedly urged his representatives to prioritise negotiations for a transfer to Old Trafford.

At the same time, there are suggestions that the West Ham star may be open to joining Tottenham Hotspur, given his comfort and settled life in London.

As previously highlighted, Jorge Mendes is overseeing the negotiations for Fernandes. These mixed signals from various sources are expected to continue, as Mendes benefits from multiple clubs competing for his client, thereby strengthening his bargaining position.

Meanwhile, Jason Wilcox and his team remain firm in their stance of not succumbing to inflated transfer demands. Ineos have already withdrawn from the pursuit of Elliot Anderson, after Nottingham Forest insisted on a British record fee for the England midfielder.

On Sunday evening, Shaun Connolly of Theatre of Red reported that Tottenham are viewed as a “distant second” in the race for Fernandes, largely because the midfielder is keen to play alongside Bruno Fernandes at Old Trafford.

Negotiations are said to be ongoing, and officials at Manchester United remain confident of securing their top target following their interest in Anderson.

“The only telling variable is how determined The Hammers are to gain as much of a fee as is possible,” the report further noted.

Additionally, a report from the Manchester Evening News indicated that United are “playing it cool at the moment,” as there is a belief that the Championship side needs to raise funds before June 30 to balance their accounts and avoid breaching Premier League or EFL financial fair play regulations.

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