According to AS, Jose Mourinho has identified West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes as one of the players he would like to see at Real Madrid if Florentino Perez secures victory in the presidential election.
It is known that Mourinho is working on a vision for the next Real Madrid project and has already put forward several suggestions regarding potential reinforcements.
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Among those names, West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes is emerging as one of the most intriguing options.
Mourinho sees Fernandes as a perfect fit
The 21-year-old midfielder enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in the Premier League and established himself as one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season for West Ham.
Mourinho is interested in the West Ham midfielder. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Despite the club’s relegation, Fernandes enhanced his reputation through a series of strong performances that attracted attention from several elite clubs across Europe.
AS reports that Mourinho is particularly impressed by the fellow Portuguese’s profile and believes he possesses many of the qualities required to succeed at Real Madrid.
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Last season, Fernandes featured in 36 Premier League matches, scoring three goals and contributing four assists while consistently demonstrating his ability to influence games at both ends of the pitch.
Not an easy deal
Mateus Fernandes was relegated with West Ham United. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
West Ham’s relegation to the second tier has potentially opened the door for interested clubs, with the report also pointing to improved relations between Real Madrid and super-agent Jorge Mendes as a strong factor that could facilitate negotiations.
However, any move is unlikely to be straightforward, as Liverpool and Arsenal are also closely monitoring the midfielder’s situation.
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In that regard, those interested in Fernandes may need to start discussions around the £80 million mark, which remains the first hurdle in the process.
For Mourinho, though, the investment could be justified, as the Portuguese manager sees Fernandes as the type of player capable of bringing energy, balance and character to the midfield, something that was missing last season.
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