Manchester United have already seen their top midfield target get away from them this summer, so to lose the next player down on that shortlist to a club that finished 14 places and 30 points worse off than them last season would be painful.
Anderson Deal Falls Through
United had set their sights on Elliot Anderson to lead their midfield rebuild, but the 23-year-old has always preferred a move to Manchester City. A price of more than £120 million convinced those in charge of recruitment at Old Trafford to walk away. City have the finances to go as high as Nottingham Forest want, and even without Pep Guardiola, they have significant pulling power. Anderson will think he has more chances of winning the big trophies on the blue side of Manchester, and it is not easy to mount an argument against that.
Fernandes Pursuit Complicated by Tottenham
But if United were to let Mateus Fernandes join Tottenham, the narrative around this window would shift considerably. United have already agreed a deal for Ederson, but getting another midfielder over the line is proving more difficult. They have been reluctant to meet West Ham's £85 million demand for Fernandes, 21, and had been waiting to see if that price comes down before the end of the accounting season on June 30, when it is expected the Hammers need to have made sales to balance the books.
Tottenham's aggression in the market is having a destabilising effect, however. If they opt against United's cautious approach and make an offer that West Ham accept, it is time for United to decide how ambitious and aggressive they are going to be this summer.
United had something of a free run at Ederson after Atletico Madrid pulled out of a deal, but that is not the case for their more elite-level targets. Fernandes has admirers at Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid and Arsenal as well, although none of that trio have come close to firming up their own interest. Tottenham look like they might, however, and there is a suggestion they have held positive talks with West Ham and could submit a bid for the one-cap Portugal international. That is a different approach to United, who have had Fernandes at the top of their list for a couple of weeks without yet submitting an offer.
United's Dilemma
If United were waiting until the final days of this month to test West Ham's resolve and just how badly they need cash, those hopes could be dashed by a big offer from North London. What do United do then? If they step away from another leading target because of a fee they do not think represents value, it would draw another line in the sand in bidding wars. Having been stung by those in the past, their transfer activity last summer revolved around players they had no serious competition for.
That policy clearly has its limits, and if United want to sign the best in the world, then at some point they will have to break from it. Omar Berrada was clear that United had a plan for the transfer window and stressed the importance of being "really disciplined", but he also said they should be "agile and flexible". The stronger message, though, was that they would not be taken for mugs, they would not cave in to high demands, and they would not overspend. "We know what we can invest, and we have to stick to that," he said, adding: "It's very important that you don't let the market or the agents dictate what we should be doing."
If Tottenham offer more than £80 million for Fernandes, does that fall into the realms of being agile and flexible, or would matching it be the market dictating what United should be doing? If they have a red line for the midfielder and that bid goes above it, do they walk away again?
Fans' Concerns
If they do, then the criticism from supporters will be fierce. United have looked at a range of top-end midfielders, but one by one they are getting away from them. That looks likely to happen with Anderson, while they have cooled their interest in Adam Wharton. Aurelien Tchouameni still looks like a very difficult deal to do. If Sandro Tonali and Fernandes both move to Tottenham, it would set alarm bells ringing.
United have just finished third and should be in a position to attack the market this summer, aware that there could be uncertainty at City and an opportunity to edge their way into a title race. Instead, it is the team that just finished 17th who are threatening to dominate the market for midfielders. United could yet go all-out for Fernandes, they might yet be in a position to capitalise on Real Madrid deciding they will sell Tchouameni, but less than two weeks into the window, their strategy is already being tested.
