Kyle Macaulay’s fingerprints are all over one of the most intriguing transfer chases of the summer, with regards to Manchester United’s interest in two West Ham players, Mateus Fernandes and El Hadji Malik Diouf.
At United, Macaulay works as Head of Senior Scouting, reporting into Director of Recruitment, Christopher Vivell. United’s model prioritises younger, high‑potential profiles, exactly the category both Diouf and Fernandes fits.
Macaulay departed West Ham in October 2025 after working closely with Maximilian Hahn on early‑stage player identification and data‑driven scouting. Reports differ on whether he personally flagged Fernandes and Diouf to the Hammers. Some suggest they were his recommendations; yet after Graham Potter’s exit, the club made clear both players were primarily identified through Hahn’s processes.
What is beyond dispute is that West Ham’s recruitment team were vindicated in their assessment of Fernandes. Signed from Southampton for £42m, the Portuguese midfielder has since become one of the club’s most valuable assets. With a contract running until 2030 and no relegation clause, Manchester United know they must move early and decisively with several other clubs, including Arsenal monitoring the 21‑year‑old.
Diouf – already an established international and now in Manchester United’s sights
Diouf endured an inconsistent Premier League campaign, but at 21 years old he still carries significant upside and remains a regular for the Senegal national team. West Ham are willing to listen to offers for the defender as they aim to raise funds and trim their wage bill.
In an attacking team Diouf’s shortfall (defending) will be less of a problem than it was in a defensive team like we were. Both he and Fernandes had a good attitude and if Utd are willing to pay the prices will wish them both every success.
We need to make profits on our best players and get as much as we can for the others.
Matt, what’s your best estimate on how much more the wage bill requires trimming down.
If reports are correct, Moyes began trimming the wage bill following the Pellegrini splurge, we then trimmed again when Moyes departed, we trimed again when more exited than entered during JLo’s tenure, we trimmed again with Potter, and when NES came in post transfer window we farmed out several players on loan, trimming further.
Loanees will return, but most likely be shown the door again
Then all players are contractually obligated to accept 50% wage reduction in the Championship.
So what more can the club do to trim further?
Asking for a friend.
Most of those loans were WHU subsidised so I’d be surprised if much trimming went on via that route.. several big earners set to depart this summer so we’ll probably pull it all together with an article once the departees are known