Arsenal Pull the Plug on Fernandes as West Ham's £80m Asking Price Proves Too Rich

Just weeks after reportedly establishing contact with West Ham over a potential summer swoop for Mateus Fernandes, Arsenal have done a complete about-face and decided the Portuguese midfielder simply isn't worth the asking price.

The Gunners had been weighing up a formal bid for the 25-year-old, but West Ham's £80 million valuation has proven a stumbling block too high to clear. With the Hammers' recent relegation from the Premier League, one might have expected their demands to soften—but apparently not.

Instead of pursuing Fernandes further, Mikel Arteta's side are now redirecting their transfer resources towards Lille prospect Ayyoub Bouaddi, leaving the West Ham star in the marketplace for other suitors.

United in the Driving Seat

Arsenal's withdrawal from the race significantly improves Manchester United's position in what's become a competitive pursuit. The Red Devils, through their INEOS co-owners, are actively engaged in negotiations with Fernandes's representatives and are in direct talks with West Ham regarding the transfer fee.

According to transfer analyst Fabrizio Romano, United are reluctant to meet West Ham's £85 million valuation head-on. Instead, they're exploring alternative deal structures—potentially combining a reduced upfront fee with performance-based add-ons to make the numbers work without breaking the bank.

"Man Utd are not going to pay completely crazy money," Romano explained on his YouTube channel, adding that Old Trafford officials are attempting to "restructure the deal" rather than simply capitulating to the Hammers' demands.

Madrid's Interest Fading

Real Madrid continue to monitor the situation with genuine interest, particularly following Jose Mourinho's appointment at the Bernabéu. However, the Spanish giants view the £80 million fee as an obstacle rather than a reasonable investment, especially given their already substantial midfield options following Bernardo Silva's arrival.

El Debate reports that whilst Mourinho would personally welcome Fernandes at the Estadio Bernabéu, the club's hierarchy won't stretch to West Ham's €93 million asking price. The Madrid hierarchy appear resigned to the likelihood that Fernandes will ultimately end up at Old Trafford, where English clubs traditionally have deeper pockets.

Liverpool's Exit

Liverpool have also opted out of the race for the 25-year-old, who contributed five goals and five assists across 42 appearances in all competitions for West Ham last season.

With the Hammers now operating in the Championship following their Premier League relegation, the pressure mounts on them to accept a reduced fee. Yet they're holding firm—for now—hoping that multiple interested parties will drive the price upward. Whether that strategy pays off remains to be seen, but Manchester United's willingness to negotiate suggests there's still room for movement before the summer window closes.