Mateus Fernandes: Reasons why Manchester United and Europe’s top clubs are interested in the twice-beaten midfielder | Football news

Not many players get a big move after being relegated twice in their first two seasons in the Premier League. But Mateus Fernandes is still wanted.

Despite being part of the Premier League’s worst team at Southampton over the past two seasons, Fernandes has managed to secure a £38m move to West Ham. Although he was relegated again, he continues to be linked with big teams.

Manchester United they seem very interested in signing him this summer – and know a thing or two about Portuguese talents called Fernandes. Arsenal again Paris Saint-Germain they have also been heavily linked with the Hammers midfielder.

It’s a strong stadium market this summer as well. The likes of Elliot Anderson, Enzo Fernandez and Sandro Tonali are among the many midfielders who could be available this summer.

If England midfielder Anderson is considered a suitable midfielder this summer, then Fernandes is not a bad transfer target. The numbers make that clear.

Last season, Fernandes proved his status as one of the strongest players in the Premier League and a striking feature for those who know him.

“It’s no surprise that his figures are so high,” Simon Rusk, who worked with Fernandes at Southampton, including as interim manager after Saints were relegated, told Sky Sports.

“Both talking to him and watching him, I could tell that was going to be a factor in his game – and strength.”

Beside the hard fighting nature there is a very high speed to get to the challenge in the first place.

Fernandes sits in the Premier League’s top 10 players for combined goals. And again, it follows the same pattern: if Anderson is the best first-round pick on the market, then Fernandes is the next best option available.

It wasn’t always the plan when Fernandes was signed by Southampton; he was seen by Russell Martin as the most advanced election.

“He was used a bit as a No 10, a bit of an advanced role,” he said. “But when I spoke to Matty in interviews with him, obviously, he saw himself as an all-around midfielder, an 8th player.

“And that would make him successful on the defensive side of the game. What Matty wanted to do, he wanted to run. He wanted to be involved in the game as much as possible.

“But really, if I look at his performance at West Ham this year, he’s continued to progress in terms of his game-wise and he’s put himself together with his strength, his fitness and his engine.”

West Ham have seen a desire for Fernandes to play a little deeper as well – using him as a hybrid option between No 6 and No 8 last season.

Unfortunately for Fernandes, it didn’t work out well in terms of the team’s success. Back-to-back cancellations have hurt the growing career of promising local talent.

But despite the difficult circumstances he’s been entrusted with, Fernandes has been a positive influence in the dressing room wherever he goes.

“He was a great guy to work with,” added Rusk. “I think he was mentally strong, but he’s going to get injured. I could see that it hurt him a lot to lose to Southampton.

“And I’m sure he’ll be hurt again by being part of West Ham’s relegation. But, his character, he’ll use that as fuel.

“It’s going to make him a stronger, better player. It’s not what happens to you, it’s what you say you’re working on. And I think for Matty, he has a growth mindset.

“He has a great attitude to get better. So he can use this just to get better.”

All these qualities have helped to convince many managers – including Rusk, Russell Martin, Graham Potter and Nuno Espirito Santo – that Fernandes is a player worth sticking with, even at his young age.

Since moving to the Premier League at the age of 19, Fernandes has started all four of the top-flight games he has been available for. Two of those games were his first two games in the competition, one was suspended and the other was seen hitting the bench for Leeds last season.

“You look at a 20-year-old, he’s come to the Premier League and he’s playing all week,” Rusk said. “He quickly gained the trust of everyone in the building.

“And one thing you can’t underestimate with a young player, he moved to a new country, a new place, a different language, a dominant language. And he was able to deal with all those things and become a regular starter in the Premier League.

“There’s been a level of maturity with him without a doubt. He’s single minded, but he’s great to work with – and he’s very respectful. And all those ingredients lend themselves to someone improving and becoming a better player.”

What has helped Fernandes settle is the player’s ability to learn new information quickly – which will stand him in good stead as he prepares for his third summer in three years.

“I’ve worked with a lot of players where they have unbelievable, unbelievable talent, but maybe they can’t coach the way they’re willing to get the experience,” Rusk said. “But Matty, from that point of view, it was a dream to work with him.”

Rusk saw that firsthand when he worked with Fernandes at Southampton.

When the Saints visited Spurs in April 2025, Rusk – who was part of the Saints’ backroom staff at the time – worked with the midfielder for several days on a late run into the box, in an attempt to block Ange Postecoglou’s top line.

Fernandes ended up scoring a goal in that game with a late run into the box. In a game remembered for Southampton’s first Premier League defeat in history, there were signs of a future gem in the works.

“The best players I’ve worked with, they learn quickly. You tell them something and the penny drops quickly,” Rusk said.

“And that Tottenham game, we only had a day or two to work on his run in the box and he came up with a late goal and that’s what we’ve been working on.

“It was another reinforcement where I thought: ‘yes, you have a real chance to go on to great things here.’

“I measured it against a lot of players who went on to play at the top of the game: international football, Champions League, Premier League football. They were very strong, very single-minded and quick learners. And I really put Matty in that bracket.”

And speaking of goals, that’s one of the areas where Fernandes can improve. He had five goals and five assists for West Ham last season – not bad for a team that ended up being relegated.

But as Rusk said: “If he scores goals, then he’s probably going to the perfect player.” Suddenly, the interest in Fernandes starts to make sense.