Premier League giants set to battle it out for Mateus Fernandes, but there’s a twist to benefit West Ham
Nuno Espirito Santo will want more signings at West Ham, and, quite frankly, they need them when you take into account that the Hammers are already five points adrift of safety.
Defensive reinforcements are a must, with West Ham having been linked with Brooke Norton-Cuffy in recent days.
However, because of their situation, several players could have their heads turned by a move, with Fernandes the latest to be linked with an exit.
Man City want to sign Mateus Fernandes
Fernandes arrived from Southampton in the summer, and while it took him a little bit of time to get up to speed, his quality has started to prevail.
The 21-year-old has started 19 of the 20 games he has appeared in this season, with two goals and two assists in that period.
However, a report from Sportsboom states that Man City and Man United have shown an interest in the midfielder, who is believed to have a relegation release clause.
Both clubs are said to be positioned to make a move if the Hammers are relegated, though West Ham are claimed to have opened the door to an early exit in January to avoid a potential loss of income.
However, there would be one issue with that deal, with a huge barrier that Man City or Man United would have to contend with.
Rule would prevent Fernandes from playing for Man City this season
West Ham wanted a deal early for Fernandes, though it would drag on, with the midfielder featuring for Southampton in the Championship while the saga was ongoing.
He made four appearances for the Saints before his move to the London Stadium was confirmed.
That means that Fernandes has already played for two clubs this season, with rules preventing players from representing a third club within the same season.
This doesn’t rule out a January exit as such, but it would mean that either Man City have to wait until the new campaign to play him, or potentially loan him back to the Itrosn for the remainder of the season.
If a move were to happen, it would almost certainly be in the summer transfer window, and entirely dependent on whether West Ham avoid the drop or not.
Stay up to date this winter with our West Ham transfer tracker. Click to see every done deal at the London Stadium, plus expert reaction from our team of writers.
