Despite relegation, Man Utd still want M費, reason revealed: B費 supports it. Final transfer fee could be £70m

Manchester United are set to launch an official bid for Matheus Fernandes, but the club knows the transfer won't be straightforward as West Ham will turn down the opening offer. TEAMtalk reports that United will deliberately start with a low sum, significantly lower than the £80m-plus valuation, to create leverage for later bargaining.

Despite West Ham's weakened negotiating position due to relegation, they believe their current price for M費 reflects both his quality and the market value for midfielders, especially considering Nottingham Forest's rejection of Manchester City's £120m bid for Elliot Anderson.

The initial offer is certain to be rejected. However, this does not mean talks will end. Instead, Manchester United will engage in lengthy negotiations with West Ham to determine the final fee. It is believed that M費 will become United's second summer signing, with a possible fee of around £70m.

Transfer expert Pete O'Rourke of Football Insider reports that West Ham are expected to accept a £70m bid. "Nottingham Forest demanded £125m for Anderson, a figure United cannot afford, so they have decided to walk away," O'Rourke said. "United have already secured Ederson's transfer, and now they are interested in M費, whose fee is expected to be more reasonable. For a player like him, the final deal will likely be around £70m."

Over the past two seasons, M費's teams have been relegated immediately after he joined—first Southampton, then West Ham—prompting some United fans to question his ability to improve a side. However, United's analytics team believe M費 is among the Premier League's best in terms of tackles and running capacity, qualities needed in Michael Carrick's midfield.

Simon Rusk, who coached M費 at Southampton, confirmed this is a consistent trait. "His tackle numbers are no surprise," Rusk explained. "Whether talking to him or watching him play, I saw that this would become his advantage and strength in matches."

When it comes to distance covered, United's long-time target Anderson is the best, but M費 is also near the top. In the 2025/26 season, he ran 279.3 km, ranking ninth, behind Anderson's 318.6 km. However, it must be noted that M費 played 3,027 minutes, while Anderson had 3,335 minutes.

When joining Southampton, manager Russell Martin thought he was better suited as a No.10 playmaker.

"I thought he could operate as a No.10, taking a more advanced attacking role," Martin recalled. "But after talking to Mati, I realized he saw himself more as a box-to-box midfielder, better suited for a No.8 role. That approach helps the team defensively, and Mati wants to run as much as possible and get involved in the game. From his performances at West Ham this year, his game intelligence has improved significantly, with better use of his strength, resilience, and excellent stamina."

West Ham also agreed with M費's preference for dropping deeper, using him mainly in a role between No.6 and No.8 last season. Although the team was eventually relegated, it was not due to M費's lack of contribution—he had 5 goals and 5 assists—but rather overall team issues beyond one player's control. Of course, he has areas to improve, such as finishing chances; if he had scored a one-on-one against Arsenal, West Ham might have had a chance to avoid relegation.

Another quality that appeals to United is M費's durability, mirroring his personal idol and United captain Bruno Fernandes. B費 supports the club's move for his compatriot and has spoken highly of him. Since arriving in the Premier League at age 19, M費 has started almost every available league match, missing only 4: two were his debut, one due to suspension, and the other when he came off the bench to score against Leeds United last season.

As a young player, M費 has transferred twice in consecutive years—and while his teams were relegated, his individual performances remained solid, showing good adaptability. Considering he is a Portuguese player moving to a new country with language and cultural barriers, his performances indicate a mature character. Sky Sports reports that his ability to quickly absorb new information helped him settle.

Coach Rusk recalled an incident at Southampton. In April 2025, before a match against Tottenham, Rusk worked with M費 for a few days, focusing on making late runs into the box to break Ange Postecoglou's defensive setup. M費 eventually scored using that exact tactic.

"Against Tottenham, we only had a day or two to practice the timing of entering the box. He ended up scoring a goal late in the match from that pre-planned move," Rusk said. "The best players learn quickly. You give them information, and they understand it fast. They are resilient, determined, and have strong learning ability. I definitely consider Mati that kind of player."