Manchester United are at risk of being beaten to the signing of Mateus Fernandes, with Tottenham Hotspur ready to offer a more lucrative contract. The 21-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to Old Trafford, where manager Michael Carrick is keen to strengthen his midfield options this summer.
Fernandes Agrees Personal Terms but Salary Gap Looms
United have already secured an agreement to sign Atalanta playmaker Ederson, but reports suggest they are also targeting Fernandes. According to The Sun, personal terms have reportedly been agreed with the Portugal youth international, who is expected to leave West Ham following their relegation to the Championship. However, Tottenham are prepared to blow United's wage offer out of the water, giving them a crucial advantage in negotiations.
West Ham are demanding a transfer fee of around £80 million for Fernandes, who currently earns approximately £60,000 per week at the London Stadium. Tottenham's willingness to pay a higher salary could see them secure the midfielder's signature in the coming weeks.
Spurs Could Help United by Signing Rashford
Tottenham may inadvertently do Manchester United a favour by pursuing Marcus Rashford. The England international is expected to leave Old Trafford this summer, with United keen to offload his £325,000-per-week wages to reinvest in other areas of the squad. Tottenham are reportedly willing to match Rashford's salary demands, meaning he would not have to accept a pay cut.
However, other reports indicate that Rashford is reluctant to join another Premier League club and would prefer a move abroad. It remains to be seen if Tottenham can convince him to sign, especially after the club's relegation scare last season.
Rashford's Release Clause and United's Benefit
Rashford has a £40 million release clause at Old Trafford, which Tottenham could trigger to bypass negotiations at club level. United initially deemed Rashford surplus to requirements two seasons ago and included a £26 million purchase clause in his loan deal to Barcelona, but the Catalan giants declined to activate it. If the proposed move to Tottenham goes ahead, it would significantly benefit United by freeing up wages and generating funds for further transfers.
