Real Madrid enters the fray for M. Fernandes, but he remains steadfast in his desire to join Manchester United! Greenwood's failed transfer impacts the Red Devils' revenue.

After Ederson’s signing was confirmed, Manchester United is making behind-the-scenes efforts to secure Matheus Fernandes from West Ham. Yet the process of chasing this 21-year-old Portuguese prodigy is far from being as straightforward as the Ederson transaction. The 26-year-old Brazilian anchorman had no rival suitors, but Fernandes faces a crowded field of admirers.

Recently, clubs like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal have been linked with Fernandes. However, British media claim that Manchester United fans need not panic, as the player’s personal preference remains unchanged—he favors a move to Old Trafford.

It is entirely normal for other clubs to be associated with a high-caliber player like Fernandes who is determined to switch teams, especially since his agent is the super-agent Jorge Mendes, a shrewd businessman seeking the best terms for himself and his client.

West Ham is likely exaggerating the interest in Fernandes to maximize their revenue from a potential sale. Consequently, clubs such as Napoli and Aston Villa have also been rumored to be in the race. Do these teams actually want the player? Of course they do—who wouldn’t want Fernandes? But there is no real indication that they are genuinely competing for his signature.

Reports that West Ham is demanding £80 million are accurate, but Manchester United certainly won’t pay that amount, nor will the vast majority of other interested clubs. Both sides in the negotiations will engage in a game of chess, trying to secure the most favorable deal for themselves.

The Real Madrid presidential election has concluded, with Florentino Pérez successfully re-elected until 2030. He has already announced that José Mourinho will return as coach. According to rumors, Mourinho is interested in Fernandes—unsurprising given that his agent is also Mendes.

However, sources emphasize that Fernandes personally prefers a transfer to Manchester United. He will not make a public statement, as Mendes does not want the player to do so. If Fernandes openly declares his desire to join only United, it would weaken Mendes’ negotiating position. Conversely, having offers from multiple clubs gives the player the upper hand in talks.

Michael Carrick highly rates Fernandes, and virtually every department at Manchester United—data analysis, scouting, and recruitment—agrees that signing him is a sensible move. For Fernandes, joining United might be the best choice at this stage of his career, offering Champions League football along with better待遇 and status compared to other top clubs.

Nevertheless, Manchester United has not yet submitted a formal bid, a decision based on several reasons. Firstly, the club wants to see if there are any other changes in the transfer market. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali, and Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni are clearly higher-priority targets with more immediate impact than Fernandes.

Secondly, United is also hoping to boost their summer transfer budget by selling current players or receiving secondary transfer fees from former players. This includes sales of Rashford, André Onana, Ugarte, and Zirkzee from United’s own ranks, as well as the potential transfer of Marseille striker Mason Greenwood.

Last week, the 24-year-old Greenwood agreed to join Turkish side Fenerbahçe, while Marseille wants a fee of €50-55 million, of which United would receive over 40%. Unfortunately, Fenerbahçe presidential candidate Hakan Safi, who had promised to bring in Greenwood, lost the election, meaning his four planned signings—including Greenwood’s move—will not go through. Greenwood’s transfer now seems to require starting over.