West Ham are bracing for a potentially painful summer of sales, and the most significant departure looks to be 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes. Reports from Football Insider suggest the Hammers will struggle to keep hold of him, especially since relegation would make it practically impossible for him to stay in East London. Even with their Premier League status hanging by a thread, West Ham have slapped an £80 million price tag on their star man.
West Ham face losing their standout midfielder in a summer of difficult decisions
Aston Villa are the latest to join a list of heavyweights, including Manchester United, Manchester City, Newcastle, and Chelsea, who are keeping tabs on his situation. Former Villa scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Unai Emery’s side are eager to bring him to Villa Park, noting that Emery wants a tenacious midfielder who can win the ball and drive play forward.
Fernandes is an ideal profile for that need. With 40 appearances this season, five goals, and four assists, he has shown he has both the engine and the end product. His high-pressing style and ability to link the midfield to the attack have been the only real highlights in a dismal season for the club. However, Fernandes’ decision-making when the heat is on, and some inconsistent displays in big away games, are things top-tier managers will likely consider before sanctioning an £80 million move.
“Any top club who need a new midfielder will be looking at Fernandes. He’s been a real standout player for West Ham since he joined last year, and he’s made such a huge difference to the midfield. Aston Villa, for example, if they’re going to lose a couple of players and want to strengthen in that position, they could certainly do with a player like him.
“The problem with their current midfielders, the players like Douglas Luiz, Ross Barkley, Youri Tielemans, is that they don’t really have that combative player. They want somebody who can put their foot in and win the ball, and then move it on and progress the play. It’s a similar problem to what West Ham had.
Fernandes has gone in at West Ham and really changed how that midfield operates, and he could do the same thing at Aston Villa now. So they’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on things at West Ham, and if he’s going to be available, I think he would be a perfect option for them.”
Can West Ham justify holding firm on their £80m valuation, given their financial situation?
In all honesty, West Ham’s bargaining power is thin right now, making that £80 million asking price look more like a desperate stance than a realistic figure. While the club want a massive profit on the player, their hand will likely be forced if they end up in the Championship.
They paid Southampton £38 million for him last summer, so even a lower fee would represent a decent markup for a player who hasn’t yet tested himself in the Champions League. Selling him for anything over £60 million would still be considered good business under the circumstances. By holding out for the full £80 million while facing the drop, they risk a bidding war falling apart or being forced to accept much less later on. At this stage, West Ham need the actual cash far more than they need a high valuation on a spreadsheet.
