West Ham’s season could hardly have started worse.
After a shocking 3-0 defeat to Sunderland and a 5-1 hammering at home to Chelsea, the Hammers look short, slow, and toothless.
Add to that the loss of Mohamed Kudus to Spurs, Lucas Paqueta reportedly on the move, and a lacklustre summer of additions so far, and it’s fair to say Graham Potter’s side has looked in real trouble.
Thankfully, there’s finally a glimmer of hope.
The club recently agreed a £17 million deal for AS Monaco’s Soungoutou Magassa, but that may just be the tip of the iceberg. Another, far more surprising name appears ready to join the squad — and it’s one that could give Potter the midfield injection he desperately needs.
Fernandes Has West Ham Medical
According to The Guardian, West Ham are set to secure Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
Earlier in the summer, the Hammers had a bid rejected for the 21-year-old Portuguese star, and many expected Potter to move on with Saints’ asking price reportedly near £60 million. That, however, seems to have changed.
The club have now agreed a £38 million deal for Fernandes, which also includes a 15% sell-on clause.
Talks moved quickly on Wednesday, and Fernandes is understood to have already completed a medical in London — a development that flew under the radar until now.
Described as “quality” by former Saints boss Will Still, Fernandes was the standout performer for Southampton last season, despite their relegation. He dominated games, showed maturity beyond his years, and looked every bit like a Premier League talent — exactly the sort of player West Ham have been searching for.
Of course, there’s some cautionary tales in recent signings: Mads Hermansen looked promising at Leicester but has had a shaky start. Here’s hoping Fernandes can make a more immediate impact and help drag West Ham out of their early-season doldrums.
