Share
Tweet
Share
Share
Paul Scholes has his reservations about Mateus Fernandes, who joined Tottenham Hotspur from West Ham United for a whopping £85 million back in July.
Prior to him completing the switch to North London, he had been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United.
United and Mateus Fernandes: What happened in the transfer window?
Indeed, the Red Devils had set their sights on Fernandes while they were deliberating who to bring in to form a midfield rebuild.
"He's an immensely talented player"
Nuno Espirito Santo on Mateus Fernandes 🌟 pic.twitter.com/1jSirNUaMq
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 20, 2026
It quickly became clear that they were prioritising players with Premier League experience – hence eventually deciding on Andrey Santos from Chelsea, Carlos Baleba from Brighton and Hove Albion, and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa.
Fernandes was said to be open to joining United, but favoured Spurs after holding frequent and direct talks with Roberto De Zerbi – as well as being offered a lucrative financial proposal that United were unwilling to match.
Told Mateus Fernandes will earn ‘silly money’. Quite the turn of events that a player who was wanted by United and generated interest from Arsenal and Real Madrid is going to Spurs https://t.co/n3mxY4hn2K
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) June 30, 2026
When Tottenham met West Ham’s demands and submitted their exorbitant offer, INEOS were adamant they would not be drawn into a bidding war when that was the price quoted.
What Scholes had to say about Fernandes
The 22-year-old, who’s been involved in back-to-back top-flight relegations with the Irons and Southampton, has started only once in the Premier League thus far, with Spurs winless in all three opening fixtures.
He played the full 90 minutes as De Zerbi’s side slumped to a 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle United before featuring for just seven minutes in last weekend’s stalemate away to Nottingham Forest.
Weighing in on whether Fernandes will be a ‘hit’ or a ‘miss’ this term, Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and The Football: “I think I am going to say miss with this one.
“Do you know what? I have not seen an awful lot of him, so I am guessing a little bit.
“I don’t think [he will be a hit], as I have not seen his name in the first few weeks of the season, and I think he did get actually relegated the last two years. I am not saying that’s his fault, but he was part of Southampton and West Ham. So twice in two years, he has been relegated.
“I am going to say miss on that one.”