Spurs add Mateus Fernandes to their squad

One of the most talked-about midfield races of the summer transfer window has concluded. Tottenham have left their rivals Manchester United behind in the race for West Ham's Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes and added the player to their squad.

According to what has been reported, Spurs put the highest offer on the table; West Ham are said to have accepted a guaranteed fee of around £85 million, and the 21-year-old is said to be keen to join Tottenham. Those figures are said to have been above the level Manchester United were willing to go to. For that reason, United pulled out of the race as both the fee and the salary offered to the player rose, shifting their focus to other targets.

The deal was confirmed by closely followed sources in the transfer world; the club-record move was reported to be close to official. Mateus Fernandes has stood out for West Ham and Southampton of late but suffered back-to-back relegations with both clubs. His ability to play in various midfield roles despite his young age had made the player an appealing target for many clubs in Europe.

With this transfer, Mateus Fernandes became one of the most important links in Tottenham's summer recruitment drive. Spurs appear to be following an aggressive policy to strengthen their squad this summer. How the Portuguese player settles in at his new team and translates on the pitch will be one of the most intriguing storylines before the season. On the Tottenham side, further moves are expected to come onto the agenda in the coming period; how the club's transfer planning takes shape will be followed closely.

Source: David Ornstein
Image: BBC