Tottenham Pursue Mateus Fernandes Following Rejected Bid for Sandro Tonali
Tottenham Hotspur are aggressively pursuing West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes as manager Roberto De Zerbi seeks to reshape his squad's midfield. This move comes after Newcastle United rejected a bid of almost £80 million from the North London club for Sandro Tonali.
Spurs are understood to be willing to pay approximately £85 million for the 21-year-old Portugal international. West Ham, who have been relegated from the Premier League, are under pressure to generate significant funds but are insisting that a large portion of any transfer fee be paid upfront.
While Tottenham have held positive talks and are preparing a formal bid, they face competition from Manchester United. United have previously valued the former Southampton player at around £60 million but may increase their offer as the situation develops. Other clubs, including Real Madrid and Liverpool, have also been linked to the midfielder.
Fernandes is reportedly open to a move to Tottenham, partly due to his preference for staying in London. He joined West Ham from Southampton in 2025 for £38 million and has since become a key player, contributing five goals and five assists over 39 appearances last season.
West Ham's stance is that they will sell the player to the highest bidder to ensure they receive the best possible transfer fee. The club's starting price is set at £85 million, a figure that would help the Hammers manage their financial obligations following their relegation.
De Zerbi views Fernandes as a tactical fit for his high-intensity, possession-based system. The pursuit of the Portuguese midfielder is part of a broader midfield overhaul, though it remains unclear if Spurs intend to sign both Fernandes and Tonali or focus on a single target.
