Mateus Fernandes is on his way to Tottenham, with Spurs having an £85m bid accepted for the Man United target who was also wanted by Real Madrid.
Spurs have been strongly linked with Fernandes throughout the transfer window, with the Portugal international emerging as one of the club’s leading priorities.
United had also been credited with serious interest, but reports claim Tottenham have won the race for his signature.
It was reported that Fernandes agreed terms with Spurs, with positive talks also held at club-to-club level as the north Londoners looked to usurp Michael Carrick’s side.
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Now, Tottenham are set to pay £85 million for Fernandes, who has decided to join Roberto De Zerbi’s side over United, with Fabrizio Romano giving his ‘here we go’ after The Athletic’s David Ornstein broke the news.
The midfielder enjoyed an outstanding season with West Ham despite the club’s difficult campaign.
Fernandes established himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet thanks to his consistency in central midfield, combining composure on the ball with the energy to cover large areas of the pitch.
Still only 21, he has already demonstrated the maturity to influence matches against some of the Premier League’s strongest opponents.
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
The Athletic’s Mario Cortegana, who is a very reliable source when it comes to La Liga news and the El Clásico clubs in particular, has shared this insight into Real Madrid’s Fernandes interest, and given his briefs come directly from the club, not to mention his own high-level sources, this can be taken seriously. |
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Finances |
Spurs have had their £85m offer accepted for Fernandes. That is a given considering the plethora of reliable sources now reporting it, and it brings into question the financial firepower of the Premier League. Spurs finished 17th for two seasons on the bounce and are still chasing a marquee deal for Sandro Tonali, who could cost a whopping £200m in total when adding up his transfer fee, wages, agent’s commissions and bonuses, according to other sources. How they can afford this, while European powerhouses Real Madrid struggle to come anywhere near financially, is a very intriguing topic. |
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Insight |
If De Zerbi manages to get his hands on both Fernandes and Tonali, the league should be worried. The pair would make a stellar midfield partnership in front of the back four or back three, and the former’s imminent arrival would allow Tonali (if he is signed) to roam forward and potentially thrive in a box-to-box role. |
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Impact |
Fernandes would arrive at Tottenham with the profile of a midfielder capable of influencing games in several different ways. He combines intelligence in possession with the confidence to play forward quickly, while his athleticism allows him to cover ground and recover the ball effectively. His experience in the Premier League also means he would require little time to adapt. |
Fernandes’ performances also earned recognition at international level after progressing into Portugal’s senior setup, even if a World Cup nod ultimately evaded him.
While Tottenham appear to have made the decisive move, interest in Fernandes extended well beyond England.
How Tottenham beat Real Madrid to Mateus Fernandes signing
According to Spanish journalist Mario Cortegana of The Athletic, the midfielder also featured prominently in Real Madrid’s recruitment planning.
Cortegana reports Fernandes was particularly admired by José Mourinho, who was very keen on the idea of signing him for Los Blancos.
However, Cortegana adds that Real were never prepared to compete financially with the Premier League clubs pursuing the midfielder, and they couldn’t come anywhere near matching Spurs’ club-record £85m offer.
That effectively left the battle to Tottenham and United, with Spurs now appearing to have stolen a march on their rivals.
What Mateus Fernandes will bring to Tottenham with deal agreed
De Zerbi has consistently prioritised strengthening his midfield this summer, with Sandro Tonali still being chased in a separate deal.
The Italian is understood to want midfielders capable of controlling possession while also driving the team forward with the ball.
Fernandes has built his reputation on exactly those qualities.
Comfortable receiving possession under pressure, Fernandes has shown the confidence to break opposition lines with his passing while also carrying the ball into advanced areas.
His work rate without possession has also become a key part of his game, making him an effective option at both ends of the pitch.
Should the move be completed, barring any last minute drama, Fernandes would become Tottenham’s fifth major signing of the summer after Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka.
Fernandes looks well suited to the style De Zerbi wants to implement, and played 36/38 league matches last season with a flawless injury record to boot.
His technical ability, athleticism and versatility would give Tottenham another midfielder capable of controlling games in possession while contributing defensively, and at 21 years of age, he also has the potential to develop into one of the club’s most important players over the coming seasons.
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