Michael Owen has urged Manchester United to press ahead with a deal for West Ham's Mateus Fernandes to bolster their central midfield options. The 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder appears poised to leave West Ham this summer following the club's relegation from the Premier League.
Fernandes was signed from Southampton last summer in a deal worth £38 million plus £4 million in add-ons and impressed in his debut season with the Hammers. United have already looked to strengthen their midfield since the end of the season, with a deal in place to sign Atalanta's Ederson for £35 million.
But the Red Devils are keen to sign at least one more central midfielder and have reportedly held talks about bringing Fernandes to Old Trafford. The Portuguese star is in high demand, with Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid also interested.
Owen said his former club must pull out all the stops to sign Fernandes, particularly as they look poised to lose out to Manchester City in the race for Elliot Anderson. 'Casemiro's shoes are big shoes to fill, aren't they?' Owen told Metro. 'And you know lots of people were writing them off but he had an incredible last two-thirds of the season and big shoes to fill.
'Personally, if I was Michael Carrick, if I was Manchester United, I'd be getting Fernandes from West Ham. I think he's very good. I think he's exactly what they need.
'I think they're going to probably be gazumped with Elliot Anderson from Man City, but there's obviously plenty of names. Baleba at Brighton, there's Scott at Bournemouth and things, but if it were me I would be getting Fernandes from West Ham.'
West Ham are said to be holding out for an £80 million fee for Fernandes, but Owen believes that fee could be worth every penny. 'I thought he was brilliant last season,' added Owen, the face of Casino.org in the UK.
'I watched him a lot; I think he's a very good pick. He's reasonably young, which is another massive tick. If you're going to be spending 80 to 100 million, then you don't want to be buying someone that's in their late 20s.
'I could see him and Kobbie Mainoo forming a great partnership in there, and the other thing is he should be gettable. West Ham have gone into the Championship, and he's not going to want to be playing in the Championship, so I would think that he's very gettable and I think he's very good.
'I personally would be making him my first choice.'
