Manchester United are in active negotiations with Jorge Mendes, one of football’s most powerful agents, over a potential deal to sign midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United. The 21-year-old Portugal international has become one of the most sought-after midfielders in European football, and Old Trafford appears to be positioning itself as the frontrunner.
West Ham’s relegation to the Championship has turned what would normally be a near-impossible transfer into something very real. The London club paid roughly £38 million to sign Fernandes from Southampton in August 2025, and they’ve now slapped an £80 million price tag on him.
A crowded field of suitors
Manchester United aren’t the only club circling. Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with the young Portuguese midfielder, creating the kind of multi-club bidding environment that agents like Mendes tend to thrive in.
José Mourinho, now managing Real Madrid, reportedly views Fernandes as a priority signing. Mourinho is also represented by Mendes, which means the super-agent is essentially working both sides of a potential tug-of-war between Manchester United and Real Madrid for the same player.
