The £64m Premier League star now wants to join Man Utd

Manchester United have returned to the promised land of the Champions League, although that will count for little if the club do not start to progress and improve in the competition next season.

Only once since 2014 have United reached the quarter-finals, often celebrating qualification but crumpling when push comes to shove.

In 2020/21 and 2023/24, for example, the Red Devils did not make it out of the group stage, which ended in a disaster especially for Andre Onana and his colleagues.

To avoid relegation in 2026/27, INEOS needs to seek adequate reinforcements, at least in the midfield department.

Man Utd have stepped up the race to sign another Carlos Baleba

United’s decision to look forward last summer paid off, with Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo scoring 29 Premier League goals between them following their arrivals.

The Old Trafford hierarchy has been more complicated, however, leaving both Ruben Amorim and Michael Carrick very short in midfield, although they have come close to adding Carlos Baleba to the party at the same time.

Personal terms have reportedly been agreed with the Cameroonian, although Brighton and Hove Albion’s £100m-plus price tag has proved prohibitive, as the 22-year-old endured a bit of a slump following a difficult campaign with the Seagulls.

United may now turn their attention elsewhere, if reports are to be believed, with journalist Ben Jacobs reporting that talks have been held for weeks over a move for West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes.

What is encouraging, according to Jacobs, is that the Portuguese player is said to be determined to join the Red Devils next season, following discussions with his representatives.

Any deal is likely to depend on whether or not the Hammers can secure their top-flight safety, with earlier reports claiming the east London side could demand as much as €75m (£64m).

Why Fernandes is a better signing than Man Utd’s Baleba

Regardless of whether the two are being linked or not, it is worrying that Baleba’s form has dropped following those linked with United, and the idea of ​​him joining this team did not seem to bother him.

In the first seven games of the season, he has been sent off at half-time three times, and has started 21 top-flight games so far, a significant drop from the 31 starts in 2024/25.

Where he was once seen as a £100m player, the former Lille man has been replaced by other bright lights in the Premier League, the man Fernandes installed.

Although the West Ham youngster may be a different profile of midfielder, having operated in a more advanced role thus far, he has thrived in the midfield duo alongside Tomas Soucek in recent weeks.

Described as a “huge talent” in the past by commentator Ben Mattinson, while on loan at Estoril from Sporting CP, Fernandes has been the star attraction of a difficult season at the London Stadium, part of an exciting trio alongside Crysencio Summerville and Jarrod Bowen.

Signed from relegated Southampton last summer in a £42m deal, the 21-year-old has scored six goals and assists in the Premier League this season, while averaging one key pass per game.

In comparison, Baleba hasn’t scored or assisted all season, averaging just 0.2 assists, not contributing much offensively or playing a meaningful role.

At a time when United need to fill the gap left by free-scoring Casemiro, who now has nine this campaign, that doesn’t sound good, with Fernandes also in the mix in terms of passing accuracy (88% vs 86%).

Outside of possession, the West Ham man appears to have the edge, following a switch to a box-to-box role under Nuno Espirito Santo, averaging 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game, as well as 5.1 possessions per game.

That’s a significant improvement on Baleba’s return, the left-footer averaging 2.0 and 3.0 in those two metrics, respectively, although we averaged 3.7 and 5.3 last time out.

That perhaps points to the mere immersion of Moises Caicedo’s successor at the Amex, although it is hard to argue that Fernandes is still a top player, and his versatility is an attractive quality at a time when the Red Devils need to plug a gap in midfield.

He has already been given the blessing of his team-mate, Bruno Fernandes, and by all accounts, this is undoubtedly a deal to watch as the summer progresses.