Liverpool have been in talks with the representatives of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes over a potential summer move to Anfield.
As Claret & Hugh covered last night, Arne Slot’s side — who’ve had a proper shocker of a season after winning the title — are desperate to sort out their underperforming midfield. Fernandes has stood out for West Ham even in a struggling team since arriving from Southampton, and now Liverpool fancy him.
Jorge Mendes is involved, so let’s be honest, players getting touted around isn’t exactly a shock. But the bit that’s properly wound me up is this rumoured £55 million fee. Are they having a laugh?
Why £55m for Mateus Fernandes is an insult to West Ham
We shelled out nearly £40m to bring the Portuguese midfielder in from Southampton, and there’s a sell-on clause in there too.
At £55m we wouldn’t be seeing much profit at all after everyone takes their cut.
The reality is Liverpool seem to think they can just rock up and nick arguably our best player on the cheap while we’re fighting our own battles this season. It’s beyond ridiculous.
Fernandes has thrived at West Ham as is now wanted on the cheap by Liverpool
The comparison that makes no sense
Look at Adam Wharton at Crystal Palace.
He’s been valued at over £80m by some, and he’s an elite passer, fair enough, but he still hasn’t scored a single Premier League goal in nearly three years.
Fernandes brings the full package — goals, assists, work rate, the lot — and he’s shown it week in, week out even when West Ham haven’t been at it.
£55m is a crazy low figure for what he’s done and what he could still become.
| Player | Club | Apps (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists | Shots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mateus Fernandes | West Ham | 29 (28) | ~2,400 | 3 | 3 | 22 |
| Adam Wharton | Crystal Palace | 27 (26) | ~2,170 | 0 | 5 | 26 |
West Ham must not get this wrong
If Liverpool want him, they’re going to have to cough up proper money, not try and pull a fast one. That said, I’m fast coming to the conclusion that the hammers are set to lose Fernandes even if we do dodge relegation.
The club are skint, Jorge Mendes is already offering him around and let’s face it, the 21 year old is so good that West Ham under the current ownership can’t match his talent or ambition. But . . . it’s imperative any transfer fee reflects that fact.
Liverpool know we’re the worst negotiaters of a player in Europe, so like Spurs mugged us off with Kudus, Liverpool see us as easy pickings. Compare that to Forest who told Spurs to do one when they wanted Gibbs White
Why are Liverpool holding talks with his agents when he’s our player, thought that wasn’t allowed. If they do want him £104 million, debt wiped out, simple.
I completely agree
On one hand, £55m is a ridiculous figure. But on the other, I’m pretty sure that fee is specifically in mind with us potentially being in the Championship next year.
You can argue that a player doesn’t become less of a player so the fee should remain the same but it just doesn’t work like that.
If we’re to go down, then a £55/60m fee for Fernandes is likely going to be a good fee. It’s just the reality of not being able to argue from a position of strength. Look at Juve when they were demoted to Serie B and a whole bunch of players were sold at as much as over half their market value. Just how it is, really.
Man United were reportedly after Mateus Fernandes only a couple weeks ago. So if Liverpool think they can have a free run then they are dreaming. But the sheer arrogance of the Big Six clubs is beyond belief with their attitude. I just wish we could tell them to p*ss off!