West Ham are set to sign Southampton’s Player of the Year, Mateus Fernandes, after agreeing a deal worth over £40 million with the Championship club for the Portugal Under-21 international.
Fernandes, 21, is currently undergoing a medical ahead of his proposed move to the London Stadium. The midfielder is expected to join Graham Potter’s squad in the coming days, providing a much-needed boost to West Ham’s midfield following a difficult start to their Premier League campaign.
Negotiations between the two clubs have focused on how to structure the transfer for Fernandes, with the final fee likely to include a mixture of add-ons and bonuses. The move represents a significant profit for Southampton, who signed Fernandes from Sporting Lisbon for £15 million just a year ago.
Despite Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League last season, Fernandes’ performances drew attention from clubs across Europe. His departure is part of a wider rebuild at St Mary’s, as the club looks to reshape its squad in the Championship. Southampton have already sold Tyler Dibling to Everton for an initial £35 million and are in talks to bring in Lens forward Morgan Guilavogui and Finn Azaz from Middlesbrough. The club are also aiming to add further reinforcements to Will Still’s squad before the transfer window closes.
Fernandes’ arrival at West Ham will be seen as a statement of intent as the club looks to recover from a string of heavy defeats and strengthen its position in the top flight. Telegraph Sport revealed this morning that a fee had been agreed for the highly-rated midfielder, who is set to become one of the club’s most expensive signings.
The deal is expected to be finalised once Fernandes completes his medical and personal terms are agreed.
