West Ham Face Crystal Palace Battle For £25m Player: Should The Hammers Pay That Amount? | OneFootball

Crystal Palace have entered the race to sign Mateus Fernandes, a Portuguese midfielder who shone for relegated Southampton. The 20-year-old arrived from Sporting CP last summer, and despite the collective result, he impressed.

That consistency in midfield has attracted the interest of several English clubs. Aston Villa and West Ham had already shown clear signs, but now the Eagles are stepping up the pace. Southampton‘s asking price of around £25 million is starting to look low for a player who still has room to grow.

West Ham Face Crystal Palace Battle For £25m Player

Mick Brown for Football Insider has reported that the Hammers are keeping tabs on Fernandes. Although Palace are the club that are leading the race and are most interested, West Ham don’t want to be left behind, and are considering a move urgently.

Graham Potter wants young, dynamic and quality players who have proved their mettle in English football, and he feels that the 20-year-old is such a profile for the Hammers. The board considers him a key player for their long-term project.

The Portuguese’s experience in a team in crisis could play in his favour, proving his ability to withstand pressure. It would not be unusual to see West Ham make a decisive move if they see the player starting to get too close to Selhurst Park.

Opinion:

Now, is it worth paying £25m for a player coming from a relegated team? If West Ham are serious about rebuilding, as Potter’s arrival seems to suggest, signings like this could set the pace. Fernandes is good with the ball at his feet, possesses energy, and has a good reading of the game in midfield.

He doesn’t excel in physical power or finishing from outside the box, but he excels in short-range accuracy and defensive positioning. If the 20-year-old can integrate quickly, he can offer stability and movement in a midfield that needs alternatives. Compared to other young midfielders such as Archie Gray or James McAtee, Fernandes offers more balance.

The key question is whether West Ham can compete with Palace and Villa in terms of ambition and pace. If the club wait too long, they could be left watching someone else take the Portuguese. On the other hand, if they act decisively, they can take a player with a high ceiling and who has not yet reached his maturity point.

He is not a generational talent, but one who can make a difference in a well-assembled squad. All in all, for £25m, Fernandes could become one of those signings who, as the months go by, look like a bargain.