TEAMtalk

Liverpool have played down suggestions they are preparing a move for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali, with TEAMtalk understanding the Italy international is not currently part of the club’s transfer plans.

Tonali has emerged as one of the biggest names in this summer’s market after Tottenham Hotspur stepped up their pursuit of the Newcastle star.

As TEAMtalk has revealed, Spurs are preparing a bid worth around £100million and have also put forward what would be a club-record contract worth in excess of £250,000 a week in a bid to convince the 25-year-old to move to north London.

While Liverpool have been linked with the former AC Milan midfielder, sources have moved to dampen speculation.

We understand that although Liverpool possess the financial strength to compete for virtually any player they identify, they are not currently pursuing a deal for Tonali.

Newcastle’s valuation, believed to be at least £100million, is not viewed as representing value by those at Anfield.

Likewise, the salary package Tottenham are prepared to offer is significantly beyond the level Liverpool would be willing to commit to for the midfielder.

Sources have stressed that central midfield is not among Liverpool’s leading priorities this summer.

Instead, the Reds remain focused on strengthening other areas of Andoni Iraola’s squad, with work continuing behind the scenes on a number of attacking targets following Mohamed Salah’s departure.

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Midfield stance could yet change for Liverpool

That stance could change later in the window, however. Indeed, sources indicate Liverpool’s plans in midfield remain closely linked to the future of Curtis Jones.

As previously revealed, Inter Milan continue to push for the England international, but negotiations remain some distance from a breakthrough.

The Serie A champions have seen two offers rejected, with their latest proposal falling well below Liverpool’s valuation.

Despite ongoing discussions between the clubs and intermediaries, there is still considerable work to do before any agreement is reached should Jones eventually leave Anfield, Liverpool would be expected to revisit the midfield market.

However, we understand that even in that scenario, Tonali is unlikely to become a realistic target.

Instead, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott remain among the players Liverpool admire most.

Both have featured prominently in the club’s internal discussions and sources indicate they would represent more likely additions should the Reds decide to strengthen in central midfield later this summer.

Wharton continues to attract widespread interest following another impressive campaign at Selhurst Park, while Scott remains highly regarded despite Bournemouth’s insistence that the England hopeful is not for sale.

For now, though, Liverpool are standing firm.

Despite the speculation surrounding Tonali and Newcastle’s willingness to listen to offers in excess of £100million, sources have told us the Reds have no intention of entering the race.

Unless circumstances change significantly later in the window, Liverpool’s focus will remain elsewhere, leaving Tottenham with a clear run at one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders.

Tottenham have agreed personal terms with Sandro Tonali and are ready to break the £100m barrier, and a player the Italian might have forced out will NOT be sold, according to multiple sources.

Tottenham are backing Roberto De Zerbi in a big way this summer, and aren’t letting their total lack of European football deter their ambition.

Aside from a handful of canny free agent pick-ups, Spurs have already splashed £52m on Dutch centre-back, Jan Paul van Hecke.

Bigger money could be spent on one or both of Savinho and Cody Gakpo for the wings. However, the true prizes lay in central midfield.

Tottenham are aiming to sign BOTH of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes. It is not a case of one or the other as far as Spurs are concerned.

Competition from Manchester United for West Ham’s Fernandes is fierce. Manchester City cannot be discounted for Tonali even despite spending a club-record £116m on Elliot Anderson.

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Spurs agree personal terms with Sandro Tonali

But according to our insider, Fraser Fletcher, Spurs have taken a giant stride towards winning the race for Tonali by agreeing personal terms with the Newcastle talisman.

The 26-year-old is in line to earn just under £300,000-a-week when factoring in bonuses if he completes his switch to north London.

Regarding the transfer fee, we’ve been reliably informed Spurs are prepared to pay a nine-figure sum to get this deal done, which meets the Magpies’ valuation.

With Tonali and potentially Fernandes on the way in, it’s easy to see why Lucas Bergvall asked to leave.

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Tottenham reach decision on selling Lucas Bergvall

The Sweden international can see the writing on the wall with regards to his game-time, and especially so next season in a year where there’s no European football.

But according to the latest from The Telegraph, De Zerbi does not want Bergvall to go and the club have acted accordingly by refusing to let the player leave.

The report stated: ‘Lucas Bergvall, the Sweden international, has expressed a desire to leave amid concerns over game-time but the stance is that he is not for sale.

‘De Zerbi and [Johan] Lange are both understood to have held talks with the midfielder to assure him of his part in the club’s future. Bergvall also signed a new contract up to 2031 in April.’

Bergvall at 20 is not the finished article just yet, though he is already a fine player in his own right and letting the midfielder go could prove a regrettable decision in the years to come.

What’s more, if and when Spurs do re-qualify for Europe under De Zerbi, excellent strength in depth with players like Bergvall will be crucial to the club competing on multiple fronts.

What’s more, officials from Tottenham contacted TEAMtalk earlier on Tuesday to provide a direct update on Bergvall’s situation.

They insisted that as it stands, Tottenham’s stance is Bergvall is not for sale, which will bring yet another smile to De Zerbi’s face.

Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United remain locked in negotiations with West Ham United over the transfer of midfielder Mateus Fernandes, with discussions expected to advance significantly over the next week, TEAMtalk understands.

The 21-year-old once-capped Portuguese international has become a key target for the two Premier League rivals.

Spurs are pushing hard to secure his signature and are also aiming to complete a deal for Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali. They hope to seal the ambitious double signing preferably in the next couple of weeks.

Sources close to the negotiations reveal that Tottenham have tabled a more lucrative contract proposal for Fernandes, offering significantly better wages than their rivals.

Man Utd are now exploring ways to bridge the gap on personal terms while keeping their overall wage structure in mind.

Despite the financial differences, Man Utd believe the move to Old Trafford is what Fernandes truly desires.

The chance to play alongside his idol and compatriot, Bruno Fernandes, and feature regularly in the Champions League remains a powerful draw for the young midfielder.

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Tottenham, Man Utd locked in £80m transfer battle

Both Tottenham and Man Utd are understood to be targeting a deal for Fernandes in the region of £80million.

West Ham would ideally like to keep the midfielder, but are keen to raise funds following their relegation to the championship.

The Hammers are therefore open to serious offers and have so far stood firm on their £85million valuation.

Talks have been productive on all sides, but no agreement has yet been reached on the full package.

The race remains wide open. While Spurs hold the advantage on wages and momentum, United’s belief in the sporting project at Old Trafford keeps them firmly in contention.

The next seven days could prove decisive, as both clubs intensify their efforts to convince Fernandes and meet West Ham’s valuation.

For Spurs, landing Fernandes would represent a major boost under their new manager De Zerbi, whose appeal continues to attract players to the project.

Adding him alongside Tonali, for whom Newcastle demand a fee of £100million before they consider letting him go, would give the midfield fresh energy and depth for the campaign ahead and give Spurs the best chance to push for European qualification next season.

Spurs have already seen one bid rejected for Tonali, but remain determined to win the race for the Italian international.

Tottenham are growing increasingly confident of securing the signature of Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali this summer, with sources indicating to TEAMtalk that personal terms have already been agreed and with the player now two steps away from securing a club-record move to N17.

The Italy international is set to command a salary close to £300k per week, with bonuses, at the London club, marking a significant financial commitment from the Lewis family as they look to bolster the Tottenham squad under new manager De Zerbi and push the north London club away from the trenches of a relegation dogfight and back up to challenging for European football once more.

Although Newcastle have been determined to keep the 26-year-old, who has impressed since his arrival from AC Milan, a deal in the region of £100 million (€116m, $132m) could persuade the Magpies to sell.

Spurs are understood to be willing to meet that valuation – which will obliterate the previous transfer record at Spurs, the £65m package spent on striker Dominic Solanke – with De Zerbi viewing Tonali as a very important addition to their midfield who can bring both defensive steel and creative flair.

The price point has been changed after City paid a fee in excess of £116m for Elliot Anderson, and with those at Nottingham Forest insisting the package is ultimately nearer the £130m mark.

Newcastle value Tonali in a similar market and have made it clear that any sale would need to come close to that.

As a result, we understand that a move is now subject to two final steps being taken: a full agreement on a transfer package and the player successfully passing a medical.

Sources can also reveal three reasons why Tonali is so keen on the move…

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The three reasons why Tonali has said YES to Tottenham transfer

A key factor in the potential move is Spurs head coach De Zerbi.

The Italian tactician has already held positive personal discussions with Tonali, who is said to be highly enthusiastic about the prospect of playing under his compatriot and playing under his progressive style of football.

The two men have roots close to Brescia and have struck up an understanding during transfer talks, with sources revealing the Spurs’ boss’ vision for the club has won sway with the 26-year-old.

De Zerbi’s influence has already been huge inside Spurs, and he is a big pull for players due to his style of play and reputation.

Tonali is also understood to be keen on relocating to London, seeing the move as an exciting opportunity to experience one of football’s most vibrant cities after his time in the North-East. His known desire to depart St James’ Park has added momentum to the negotiations.

Talks between the two clubs remain ongoing, with it expected to intensify over the coming days.

While nothing is yet finalised, Spurs officials are optimistic that a breakthrough could be achieved shortly despite a rejected offer of £85 million. For Newcastle, the substantial fee would provide significant funds for their own recruitment plans amid PSR considerations, but losing a player of Tonali’s calibre would represent a major blow to Eddie Howe’s squad.

The deal for Tonali does not impact their move for Fernandes, and they want both in the coming weeks.

MORE ON TONALI TRANSFER

Sandro Tonali tells Newcastle he WANTS Tottenham move as clear decision is made on asking price

Tottenham Hotspur’s ambitious summer rebuild shows no signs of abating after a respected journalist revealed Roberto De Zerbi’s side had opened talks with Como over a deal for Martin Baturina as part of an outstanding triple midfield overhaul.

While Spurs may have avoided Premier League safety by a narrow margin last season, the north London side are determined to do all in their power to avoid a repeat and are looking to build a side under De Zerbi that is much more capable of challenging for the European places than fighting to avoid the drop.

A busy summer has already seen Tottenham add Martin Dubravka, Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson (all free transfers) as well as Jan Paul van Hecke (£52m) to their rearguard, while focus is swiftly turning to midfield recruits.

Indeed, while Spurs are already deep in discussions with the agent of Mateus Fernandes and have shown a willingness to meet both his financial demands as well as West Ham’s £80m asking price, they are also locked in talks with Newcastle over a move to bring Italy star Sandro Tonali to N17.

Indeed, it was reported on Monday evening that Spurs had now struck an agreement with the player over a bumper six-year contract and were also now close to agreeing a fee with Newcastle, potentially worth as much as £90m.

In addition to that, one of Fabrizio Romano’s collaborators, Matteo Moretto, claims Spurs have also now made contact with Como to ask for information over a deal to sign Croatian playmaker Baturina.

Per Moretto, speaking on Romano’s YouTube channel, the Como star, like his teammate Nico Paz, is attracting widespread interest across Europe after a stellar season in Serie A under the guidance of Cesc Fabregas.

He claims that Baturina – who has also caught the eye at the World Cup finals with an excellent goal against England – has been the subject of enquiries from both Spurs and Aston Villa this summer as they look to find out exactly what a deal would cost.

However, a deal looks tough for either Premier League side to pull off, in the wake of both Como’s response, their valuation and the level of top European interest that is now emerging in the 23-year-old playmaker…

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Tottenham face tough task in landing Martin Baturina

Having qualified for the Champions League, Moretto has confirmed that Como have no desire to cash in on either Baturina or Paz, the latter of whom has returned to the club from Real Madrid after a complicated buy-back clause that saw the Spanish giants secure a major profit.

Indeed, it’s claimed that Fabregas’ side are heavily counting on both players and hope to dissuade Baturina’s admirers by placing a prohibitive €80m (£69m) price on his head.

Furthermore, with interest having also emerged from Bayern Munich, which could also threaten Tottenham’s chances, competition is certain to be tough if there are any signs that suggest Como could be willing to cash in.

That said, the Germans’ recent agreement to sign Ismael Saibari would suggest any plans they may have had for Baturina will now be put on hold.

Either way, speculation that De Zeri is keen to bring in Baturina could have serious repercussions for James Maddison, who missed close to a year with an ACL injury.

While he made his comeback towards the back end of the season with a series of cameo roles, his place would come under serious threat were a deal for Baturina to be finalised.

Should Spurs manage to land all of Baturina, Tonali and Fernandes – though it is worth stressing that the latter is still favoured to move to Manchester United instead – then deals for all three would set Spurs back a massive £239m (€278m, $316m), a big sign of the ambitions at Spurs and their desire to ensure they pull clear of that dreaded 17th place.

Tottenham Hotspur are hurtling towards the sensational signing of Sandro Tonali, as they have reached an agreement with the Newcastle United midfielder, according to two separate reports.

It first emerged in January that Tonali would consider a move away from Newcastle this summer. Tonali seemingly has concerns about the Newcastle project, as they have gone from qualifying for the Champions League to falling down to 12th in the Premier League table.

Despite Tottenham’s recent struggles, they have emerged as strong contenders to land Tonali in preparation for the 2026-27 campaign.

Tottenham are ushering in an exciting new era where they will start to spend big to get back in the mix for the Premier League title. This has intrigued Tonali, who also wants to play under Spurs boss Roberto De Zerbi.

Spurs are in talks with both Tonali and Newcastle as they push to beat Manchester City to the 26-year-old’s capture. De Zerbi’s side started the bidding at £75m, but this offer was rejected by Newcastle, who are demanding a bigger sum.

As per Italian source Sport Mediaset, Spurs have ‘reached an agreement’ with Tonali over a six-year contract worth €12m (£10.3m) per year.

Tonali currently earns a reported £150,000 a week at Newcastle, and his new Spurs deal is expected to be worth £200k per week.

The report adds that Spurs are ‘confident and hope to close the deal this week’.

Sport Mediaset follow transfer reporter Nico Shira, who revealed on Friday that a ‘total agreement’ is in place on personal terms.

We confirmed last week that Tonali has told Newcastle he wants to make the move to north London.

Our sources state that Spurs are readying a blockbuster new bid for the midfield playmaker worth £100m. A transfer at that price would shatter their current transfer record.

Tonali to get Tottenham move

We understand Tonali is in line to get his Spurs ‘wish’, but the same cannot be said for fellow midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

Newcastle have already sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona and do not want anymore top stars to leave after Tonali.

Spurs and City both have ambitious midfield plans this summer. De Zerbi has instructed Spurs to completely overhaul the position by snaring both Tonali and West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes.

Spurs have been tipped to offer West Ham a player swap as they try to land Fernandes before Manchester United.

City, meanwhile, are keen on adding Tonali to their midfield ranks even after agreeing to spend a whopping £116m on Elliot Anderson.

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly refusing to accept less €50million (£43m / $57m) for a first-team regular who has asked to leave, following the club’s continued chase for the likes of Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes.

Following back-to-back 17th-placed Premier League finishes, Spurs are actively looking to add more depth and experience to a squad that was beset by injury issues over the course of the last two campaigns.

With four new additions already at the back, the focus has now turned to making significant changes to Roberto De Zerbi’s midfield engine room.

Joao Palhinha is now back at Bayern Munich and looks unlikely to return to Tottenham, Yves Bissouma has been released and there are also doubts surrounding the futures of Pape Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur.

Two young talents, Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall, have also been making headlines, although our sources indicate Spurs have zero intention of offloading the former this summer.

Bergvall is a different matter, however, with our sources revealing that the Sweden international is actively pursuing a fresh challenge after becoming frustrated with his lack of starting opportunities at Tottenham.

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Tottenham refusing to buckle on Bergvall price

As we previously stated, Forest are hunting Bergvall as they prepare for the devastating exit of England star Elliot Anderson to Manchester City.

Borussia Dortmund, RB Leipzig, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Napoli are also keeping a very close eye on his situation, while Chelsea and Aston Villa are also admirers of the player.

And now a fresh update from credible Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, speaking on the Tuttomercatoweb podcast, has doubled down on Napoli’s interest, while also name-checking Forest and Tottenham’s asking price for Bergvall.

Di Marzio, via CalcioNapoli24, said: “Bergvall, a Tottenham player who will perhaps find less playing time with all those signings, is working with his entourage to leave.

“He’s a player you think: ‘I’ll go there, maybe l’lI take him on loan, offer €30m, offer €35m and they’ll give him to me,’ but Napoli, who are among the most interested teams in Italy, have made an effort to understand and thought perhaps, at most, they could land him with €40m.”

Di Marzio also believes that Forest have made an initial offer but that it was rejected by Tottenham.

He added: “Tottenham recently rejected €50m, likely from an English club, likely Nottingham Forest. And I don’t think they’ll go below that threshold. It will always take €50m or more.”

That €50m (£43m / $57m), should they be able to recoup it for a player who Spurs beat Barcelona to the signing of in 2024, would go part way to paying for Tonali.

Newcastle remain insistent that they will not sell the Italian below £100m, a fee that would obliterate Tottenham’s current transfer record.

Either way, it looks increasingly likely that Bergvall is heading for the exit door in news that will come as a blow to the majority of fans in north London who rate the Swede highly.

Brighton are showing no signs of slowing down their defensive rebuild, with TEAMtalk confirming the Seagulls remain keen to sign both Luka Vuskovic and Honest Ahanor despite closing in on a deal for Pascal Struijk, though the fee for the departing Leeds man is less than initially billed.

Brighton have moved decisively to secure Struijk after the Dutch defender made it clear he would not be signing a new contract at Elland Road.

With just one year remaining on his deal, Leeds have reluctantly accepted that this summer represented their final opportunity to receive a significant transfer fee and have now agreed a package worth an initial £15m with a further £3m in add-ons – slightly less than the £20m fee originally reported.

The Yorkshire club are already drawing up a shortlist of replacements as they prepare for life without one of Farke’s most reliable defenders.

However, we understand that Brighton’s business at centre-back is far from finished.

Sources have confirmed the south coast club remain firmly in the market for more defensive reinforcements and are continuing to pursue two of Europe’s most highly-rated young defenders.

One of those is Atalanta’s Honest Ahanor.

Brighton have already tabled a bid worth around £34million (€40m, $45.5m) for the versatile defender, who has attracted widespread interest following his emergence in Serie A.

Capped twice by Italy despite only being 18, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City have all tracked Ahanor extensively.

However, it is Brighton who have moved aggressively in an attempt to steal a march on their Premier League rivals – although Atalanta have rejected their initial offer.

The Bergamo side are not in a hurry to sell Ahanor as they have already green-lit the high-profile sales of Ederson and Marco Palestra this summer, with the Serie A side determined to avoid a third high-profile departure…

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Brighton confident they can sign Tottenham star Vuskovic

Sources can also reveal that Brighton remain fully committed to signing Tottenham Hotspur youngster Luka Vuskovic.

The Croatian starlet has already agreed personal terms with Brighton and has informed Tottenham that he wants to make the move to the Amex Stadium this summer.

Sources indicate Vuskovic believes Brighton offer the clearest pathway to regular first-team football at this stage of his career.

Despite Tottenham’s admiration for the teenager, the defender is unconvinced his development would be best served in north London.

Spurs have significantly strengthened their defensive options, adding Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke to a group that already includes Micky van de Ven, Kevin Danso and Radu Dragusin.

Although Cristian Romero and Dragusin are both expected to depart before the transfer window closes, Vuskovic still believes opportunities would remain limited compared to what Brighton are prepared to offer.

Brighton’s long-standing reputation for developing young talent has also been a major factor in the player’s thinking.

The club believe Vuskovic possesses the attributes to become one of Europe’s leading central defenders and are working to convince Tottenham to sanction a deal.

Meanwhile, Ahanor remains another priority as Fabian Hurzeler looks to assemble one of the Premier League’s most exciting young defensive units.

Struijk’s imminent arrival will provide immediate Premier League experience and leadership, but Brighton are equally focused on investing in elite young talent capable of becoming long-term cornerstones of the squad.

TEAMtalk understands Brighton see the three deals as complementary rather than competing.

With Struijk offering proven top-flight quality and both Vuskovic and Ahanor viewed as defenders with enormous ceilings, the Seagulls believe they can strengthen both the present and the future in one ambitious summer.

Whether they can complete all three deals remains to be seen, but Brighton have made it clear their defensive recruitment drive is far from over.

Tottenham are reportedly preparing to offer West Ham a player swap in a bid to try and sweeten a deal to sign Mateus Fernandes, given that Manchester United appear to have taken a step closer to signing the Portugal international.

Fernandes has emerged as one of the stories of the summer window to date, with his expected departure from the London Stadium sealed on the final day of the 2025/26 season following West Ham’s relegation to the Championship.

Tottenham and United emerged as major contenders to snap up the 21-year-old talent, with talks taking place over a prospective deal in the region of £85million (€98.5m / $112m).

Indeed, speaking recently on his YouTube channel, transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealed the latest on the player’s situation.

Romano said: “The reality of this story is that Mateus Fernandes is prepared to go to Man United or Tottenham. The player is open to both moves.

“The player is ready to accept both projects. It now depends on the club, so who can agree terms with West Ham will get the player, and it’s about the money, because they start at £85million, could be more if these clubs keep fighting for the same player, and also payment tariffs are also important for West Ham, so it’s not just about the fee, it’s also about the timing to pay this money.”

Despite that Romano statement, TEAMtalk understands that Man Utd has been Fernandes‘ top choice from the outset and that the midfielder has already given them the green light over a potential move, with talks now reported as being underway.

Indeed, according to Ben Jacobs, reporting for talkSPORT, the Red Devils have now started the process of talks to reach an agreement, though are still waiting for a full confirmation from the player.

For their part, Tottenham are still confident they could steal a march on United and convince Fernandes to remain in the capital and not head north.

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Tottenham tempt West Ham with Fernandes player swap

According to insiders from the West Ham side, Spurs are hoping the Hammers accept a proposal that would see a current north London star head to the London Stadium as part of the Fernandes deal.

In a post on X, WestHam_Central, in conjunction with Hammers insider ExWHUEmployee stated that “Spurs have offered players to tempt us”.

One of those players reported to have been offered is young winger Mikey Moore, who excelled during a loan spell in Scotland with Rangers during the 2025/26 campaign.

The 18-year-old prospect played 47 times across all competitions for the Ibrox outfit, starting 32 of those games, and scored seven goals with four assists.

While many Tottenham fans are excited about the prospect of seeing Moore being given game time under Roberto De Zerbi, our sources have previously reported how another loan move to Rangers has already been given the green light.

However, Hammers insiders claim that Moore has actually been offered to West Ham instead as part of the deal that would take Fernandes to Tottenham.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side could be in need of two new wide men this summer, with Spurs target Crysensico Summerville expected to leave and now being linked with Man Utd.

Jarrod Bowen is also being tipped to move on after the club’s relegation, with latest reports suggesting that Everton are now firmly in the mix for a player who has been heavily linked with Tottenham in the past.

As for Moore’s future, sources indicate that a move to Ibriox remains the likelier option for the young winger, although what that means for the Fernandes deal remains to be seen.

Manchester United have taken a step closer towards the signing of Mateus Fernandes after opening what’s described as formal talks with West Ham over a deal, and while the two clubs remain some distance apart over his valuation, they at least have a double buy-in from the player over a move to Old Trafford.

The Portuguese star has fast become one of the most in-demand players of the summer window after West Ham cleared the player to leave the London Stadium in a big-money deal.

Rated by the Hammers in the £80m bracket, they are looking to double their £40m investment from Southampton made just a year ago, with the midfield star catching the eye in their engine room despite a dismal campaign that resulted in the club’s relegation from the Premier League after 14 years.

However, that fee is beyond what United feel the player is worth and have stalled on meeting the Irons’ demands.

That delay, though, has opened the door for Tottenham to begin talks of their own, though questions have been raised if the Portuguese is really their top target and their name was simply being used to try and provoke United into spending more.

Either way, we have understood all along that Fernandes’ top choice has always been Manchester United and, having already given them the green light over a potential move, it’s now been reported that talks are officially underway over a deal.

According to Ben Jacobs, reporting for talkSPORT, United have now started the process of talks to reach an agreement, though are still waiting for a full confirmation from the player they are the move he wants.

“But Manchester United are still in formal talks with West Ham, and what I sense here is both Man Utd and Spurs are waiting to see if they can get that communication from the player that he only wants to join a particular club – and then you’re in a stronger position to negotiate with West Ham United.”

Either way, a separate report in West Ham-centric outlet Claret & Hugh claims that both clubs have now ‘agreed personal terms’ with the player, with the offer of a package worth £130,000 to £140,000 a week ‘turning the player’s head’.

READ NEXT: Mateus Fernandes to Man Utd or Tottenham? Everything being said by FIVE journalists as one ‘come in hot and heavy’

Mateus Fernandes still wants Man Utd over Spurs

Writing on June 12, our transfer correspondent, Fraser Fletcher, insisted United had a two-fold belief that Fernandes would sign, having made clear his dream of playing with his idol, Bruno Fernandes, and with the lure of Champions League football proving too powerful to resist.

Despite that, there remain plenty of differences over the fee, with United determined to show a patient approach and believing that, once they get the full ‘public’ – the key word – buy-in from the player that he wants the move to Old Trafford, then they will be able to negotiate terms nearer their valuation, which is understood to range between £60m to £70m (with add-ons).

Indeed, United retain a confidence that, despite the lingering interest from Spurs, the 21-year-old is ready to make it clear that Old Trafford is his preferred destination.

Backing up those claims, journalist Andy Mitten said: “Manchester United understand that the player [Fernades] wants to join the club.

“West Ham want the highest fee, as much money as possible and an auction situation, maybe his agent does as well, and the agent is influencing the player. Jorge Mendes is the agent!

“I’m told he would play for Spurs, but prefers Manchester United… It boils down to how much United want to pay for the player. They don’t want to get into an auction situation.”

Shaun Connolly, the editor of Theatre of Red, commented: “Fernandes has indicated that United is his preferred destination for some time. Still, he needs a contingency plan-hence, Spurs. There will come a time during this public auction when his word will carry weight. That doesn’t mean West Ham will crumble, but it will play a part.”

And Chris Wheeler added: “A couple of weeks ago, if the personal terms were all done, it was never going to be a problem. The two clubs were talking. He was keen to come. Everything seemed to be heading in that direction.

“Tottenham have come in pretty hot and heavy. Not just on him either, on [Sandro] Tonali as well, and on several players now, actually. They are pushing hard, and I think they’ve definitely put a fly in the ointment and it’s causing problems.”

Meanwhile, a report on Saturday claimed United are ready to improve their offer to Fernandes, with Rio Ferdinand also sending a plea to a Real Madrid star to move to Old Trafford.