Once it became evident that Elliot Anderson preferred a move to the Etihad Stadium rather than Old Trafford, Manchester United swiftly redirected their focus towards Mateus Fernandes.
Fernandes initially appeared to be the perfect signing. His exceptional mobility, resistance to tackles, and composure on the ball had supporters envisioning a rejuvenated midfield for United.
With West Ham United relegated and the 21-year-old clearly too talented to play in the Championship, many expected United to swoop in. However, West Ham recognised their opportunity. Determined to maximise profit from one of their brightest young stars, the London club stood firm.
They made their stance crystal clear: Fernandes would only be sold if a club met their valuation of over £85 million.
Manchester United were fully aware of what was required to land him, but they were hesitant to spend that amount. Instead, they hoped to negotiate a more reasonable price and decided to bide their time.
While United were preparing for talks, Tottenham Hotspur entered the fray aggressively. The North London side met West Ham’s demands head-on with an £85 million offer, effectively sealing the deal.
According to reports, Manchester United were given the opportunity to match Tottenham’s bid but ultimately chose not to. The question then arose — why did they hold back? ESPN journalist Rob Dawson offered insight:
“During discussions, United never received a definitive indication that Old Trafford was Fernandes’ preferred destination. That uncertainty meant that when it came to deciding whether to meet West Ham United’s asking price, there were doubts about Fernandes’ true commitment to the move.”
Dawson elaborated further: “For Omar Berrada and Jason Wilcox, this attitude contrasted sharply with that of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha last summer. Despite strong interest from numerous other clubs, including some competing in the Champions League, both made it clear that their only desire was to join Manchester United.”
“The recruitment department believes that this unwavering commitment was a crucial reason why Mbeumo and Cunha integrated into the squad so quickly.”
In the end, missing out on Fernandes felt more like a blessing in disguise. The report highlighted: “There are still staff members at the club who think that £73 million-winger Jadon Sancho’s struggles partly stemmed from his initial hesitation about leaving Borussia Dortmund for Manchester United in 2021.”
From that standpoint, United’s decision not to hijack Tottenham’s deal for Fernandes, despite his technical qualities, appears both bold and sensible. Fernandes is now a Spurs player, and although disappointing given the potential boost he could have provided, United’s refusal to pursue a player uncertain about their project looks justified.
Instead, INEOS have secured the signings of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans — two players who have already demonstrated their belief in the club’s vision. Alongside a top-tier defensive midfielder, they could help Manchester United assemble one of the most formidable midfields in the Premier League, perhaps even in Europe.
Featured image: Justin Setterfield via Getty Images
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