Tottenham beat Man Utd to £85m signing of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes

Tottenham beat Man Utd to £85m signing of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes has emerged as one of the most coveted targets in the current transfer window. The Athletic now report that Spurs have won the race for his signature. They have agreed to meet West Ham’s £85 million asking price of Fernandes, and the young midfielder has agreed to join them. United were keen on signing the 21-year-old, but were not prepared to meet either West Ham’s valuation or the player’s wage demands. They are now expected to shift focus to other targets. Manchester City, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Liverpool have also been linked with the West Ham star, but have not made any concrete move, as they have other priorities. The signing of the Sporting CP academy graduate represents a huge statement for Spurs, despite the lack of Champions League football and their recent struggles in the Premier League. The north London side have been in the relegation tussle for the past two seasons and are ready to back manager Roberto de Zerbi to ensure they avoid a repeat next term. The Portuguese midfielder was one of the standout players for West Ham last season. He scored three goals and provided four assists in 36 league games. Fernandes is set to become Spurs’ fourth signing this summer. De Zerbi’s side have already agreed deals for Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi as free agents, while Jan Paul van Hecke is set to join from Brighton & Hove Albion for £52m. Despite signing Fernandes, Spurs are still expected to continue their pursuit of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. They have already seen a £75m bid for the Italian rejected .