West Ham readying £30m bid to sign Southampton FC star | OneFootball

Mateus Fernandes' future at Southampton is the subject of speculation ahead of 1 September

West Ham are preparing an opening offer to Southampton for Mateus Fernandes.

According to the Guardian, Graham Potter is keen to bolster the side’s midfield options before the market shuts on 1 September.

Fernandes joined the Saints last summer following their promotion to the Premier League, but he is now facing an uncertain future after the club slipped back into the Championship.

The 21-year-old made 36 appearances for the Hampshire outfit in the previous campaign, and he featured off the bench in the team’s 2-1 win over Wrexham on Saturday.

West Ham prepare Fernandes offer

It has been reported that the Hammers are readying an opening offer to Southampton for Fernandes.

It has been claimed that the London outfit have narrowed down their list of midfield targets ahead of the close of the window, and that the Portuguese has been identified as their top priority.

It is expected that any deal for the player could cost about £30 million, but it remains to be seen whether West Ham will be willing to meet that figure.

Fernandes arrived at St. Mary’s last year for a reported fee of £15 million, so a £30 million sale would represent a significant increase in his valuation after just 12 months.

West Ham are also targeting the likes of Jacob Ramsey and Ngal-ayel Mukau as possible midfield options.

Fernandes has a contract with Southampton until the summer of 2029, giving the club a lot of leverage in any upcoming negotiations.

West Ham’s Wrexham win

Fernandes came off the bench around the hour mark on Saturday with Will Still’s side trailing 1-0.

While he didn’t play a direct role in either goal, the 21-year-old performed well as the Saints turned around the game to win 2-1.

However, it could prove to be the player’s final game for the club if he makes the switch to West Ham.

Next up for Southampton in the league is a trip to face Ipswich Town on 17 August.

Southampton will do well to hold onto Mateus Fernandes

It’s no surprise Fernandes is a man in demand this summer, and the Saints would do very well to hold onto him after the market shuts.

Southampton obviously struggled last year, but he still stood out as a Premier League calibre player.

He could be a smart fit for Potter’s style of play, and the chance to play in the top flight again will be tempting for the midfielder.