As season don end, Manchester United dey look back with better eye. With Michael Carrick as permanent manager, things dey improve. Bruno Fernandes win Premier League Player of the Season, United dey back for Champions League, and dem dey near new signings, especially for midfield.
Carrick want add midfielders, as Casemiro and Manuel Ugarte dey set to leave. All the rumour dey surround Brazilian midfielder Ederson. Some weeks ago, reports say Ederson don agree personal terms to move to Old Trafford. Now, inter-club negotiation between United and Atalanta dey go on, and dem describe am as ‘positive’. The move look set to succeed, but Carrick need another midfielder.
Vague reports from Italy on Saturday claim dem near agreement for Sandro Tonali, but that one less likely for now. So where Jason Wilcox fit look next? Well, Mateus Fernandes of West Ham dey on club radar, and like Ederson, he dey seek exit from current club.
West Ham dey near relegation, and that fit speed up any possible move for Fernandes. United need am, and dem value am at £80 million, so e no go be cheap extra from East London. But dey move by midfielder’s feeling about a change. According to a roundtable report, Fernandes see United as a ‘dream move’. He dey very open to go to Old Trafford, and personal terms no go be problem.
The general consensus this summer be say United go sign a cheaper midfielder like Ederson, then look for a more expensive option like Fernandes or their number one target, Elliot Anderson. With Ederson, dem go get proven product, somebody wey dem describe as ‘strongest defensive midfielder in the world’ according to Italian content creator Damiano Coccia. He get excellent set of tools, ranking among top 13% of midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues this season in terms of ground duels won per 90 minutes. He also be forward-thinking player, ranking among top 14% of midfielders in progressive carries per 90 with 1.57. However, there be feeling say the 26-year-old don already reach peak.
Fernandes, on the other hand, be player with huge ceiling. He don already dominate Premier League, get crucial experience of English football, and im potential dey massive. This be player wey get versatile game wey fit match the best midfielder for league right now: Declan Rice. Defined as ‘ground eaters’, players wey recover ball well and know how to keep possession, the two best players for Premier League for 2025/26 season in that sense be Rice and Fernandes. No other player get higher ratio of progressive carry distance to turnover per carry. For those wey dey wonder wetin that mean, e be amount of forward ground player gain by dribbling before losing ball. This season, Ederson make only 0.64 successful dribbles per 90, compared to 0.86 for Fernandes, a stat wey support the claim above.
The above fit also quantify through ball recoveries. In that sense, West Ham star achieve 6.42 per 90 this season, against 5.92 for the Brazilian. Ederson look like better replacement for Casemiro. He be big duel winner, winning 2.29 ground duels per 90, against 1.55 for Fernandes. However, the Irons midfield star go give Carrick completely different midfield dynamic, somebody with more energy and carrying ability than Casemiro get for Old Trafford. The pair be very different players, but that be wetin make dem interesting proposal. In reality, Ederson and Fernandes fit join forces, but comparisons with Rice certainly raise the profile of the latter, just look at wetin the England international do for Emirates Stadium to see wetin player with im attributes fit do for team wey dey chase title.
Already acclaimed by football writer Joost van der Leij as ‘world star’, Fernandes go be phenomenal signing, somebody wey with just 21 years fit dazzle from centre of park for United for next decade. Ederson be the one wey raise floor, but West Ham midfielder be the one wey raise ceiling.
West Ham beat Leeds 3-0 for last round of Premier League. But that result no enough to guarantee dem stay for top flight next season. Amid dem financial difficulties, West Ham go sure sell some key players to balance budget. Using the situation, Manchester United don officially contact Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes, 21, about possible transfer. United don follow Mateus development for almost a year and value the potential of young player after impressive Premier League season. Despite West Ham inconsistency, Mateus Fernandes always perform well when on pitch, showing im endless energy, excellent vision, and dribbling skill.
The London club initially value Mateus between £70 and £80 million. However, with relegation to Championship, pressure to sell force dem to accept lower price, around £55 million. The young Portuguese talent prefer join Old Trafford instead of other clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, or Tottenham. Besides, Mateus always admire his compatriot Bruno Fernandes, the current icon of Manchester United. Renowned Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg reveal: ‘The information I get indicate Mateus Fernandes want stay in England. Manchester United.’
Left out by Portugal coach Roberto Martínez from 27-man squad for World Cup, Mateus Fernandes still fit live rich summer in terms of transfer market, where e promise be one of the names wey go give plenty talk. On Wednesday, in statements to British portal Football Insider, Stefan Borson, former financial consultant of Manchester City, say he get no doubt say the player wey form for Sporting go leave West Ham because of good performances under Portuguese coach Nuno Espírito Santo. He be player wey fit that category. He no go cost less than £40 million, so where e fit go? Premier League look like most likely destination, but how many players these Premier League clubs fit buy? Each of the biggest Premier League clubs go buy between three to four players, right? We know that. Premier League for more than £40 million. If yes, which club go make am priority and feel say that be good value? Clearly, you fit see that transfer happening, especially considering im age, so I believe e go stay in England, and one of dem go buy am. The value go be between £40 and £50 million. From wetin I dey hear, e also perform well for Southampton, something wey obviously be fantastic endorsement.
West Ham, remember, dey 18th in Premier League with one game to go. Tottenham dey just ahead. Next Sunday, the hammers go host Leeds, and Spurs go face Everton. A factor wey go also weigh on immediate future of Mateus Fernandes, Portuguese international formed at Sporting, wey arrive at London Stadium less than a year ago from Southampton for fee around €44 million, and since then, e score four goals and provide three assists in 37 official games in all competitions. Something wey, Stefan Borson stress, no ‘belittle’ im quality: ‘Dem fit end up relegated, but put that aside. E dey right age, e play for two different clubs in Premier League and impress for both, and that go meet many requirements for many teams.’
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