Tottenham Hotspur has reached an agreement to sign Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United for a fee of £85 million. This deal comes after Spurs successfully navigated competition from Manchester United, who opted not to match the financial terms set by Tottenham.

Transfer Details

Fernandes, who joined West Ham for £40 million last summer, has emerged as a key target for Tottenham following their unsuccessful bid for Sandro Tonali, which was turned down by Newcastle. The 21-year-old midfielder's transfer is a guaranteed £85 million, with no additional add-ons involved.

Tottenham has been proactive in the transfer market this summer, having already secured four new signings. Recently, they finalized a deal for goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who will join on a free transfer after his contract with Burnley expires on July 1. The club has also added defensive reinforcements in the form of Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson, both acquired on free transfers, as well as Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who was signed for £52 million from Brighton.

Manchester United's Position

Despite interest from Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, Fernandes has remained a sought-after player this summer. United, however, decided to withdraw from the race for his signature, adhering to their policy of only pursuing players at what they consider a fair valuation. The club's management believes that their cautious approach last season yielded positive results in terms of player acquisitions.

While Manchester United has expressed interest in strengthening their central midfield, they have already agreed to a £35 million deal with Atalanta for Ederson, although his arrival has been delayed due to a late call-up to the Brazil World Cup squad. As the pre-season training approaches, the squad remains largely unchanged, with no significant transfers in or out, aside from the departures of out-of-contract players Casemiro and Tyrell Malacia.

As Tottenham prepares to welcome Fernandes, the transfer signifies their ambition to bolster the squad ahead of the upcoming season, while Manchester United continues to evaluate their options in the transfer market.