23 Jun 2026 18:14:12
Eds. Any truth in the online rumours that Mateus prefers to go to Spurs or is it just the usual make up a headline in the summer.

{Ed001's Note - as far as I am aware, he has made no such decision at all. Seems like clickbait.}

1.) 23 Jun 2026
23 Jun 2026 19:05:13
The West Ham itk joyfully said that Fernandes really wants to move to United, but seemingly we are quite a distance away on fee.

2.) 23 Jun 2026
23 Jun 2026 21:10:20
Thanks Ed

{Ed001's Note - very welcome.}

3.) 24 Jun 2026
23 Jun 2026 22:59:55
His agent, Jorge Mendes, is a very clever man, briefing the media to get United to pay the full fee.

4.) 24 Jun 2026
24 Jun 2026 11:32:49
Why would Mendes care what fee was paid? If anything, it makes it less likely his client ends up at United, which means way less exposure for sponsorship and image rights.

5.) 24 Jun 2026
24 Jun 2026 13:06:09
The higher the transfer fee the higher the agent fee in general. Sometimes agents are also paid by the selling club for sorting the deal. If you're getting 20% of the fee (10% from each buyer & seller), then, as an agent, you're likely to try to get the highest value.

6.) 24 Jun 2026
24 Jun 2026 22:05:31
85 million for a player who has been relegated two years running and not been a stand out in either team.

Ridiculous how he's been priced at that.

Move on, let Spurs have him.

Rather get the lad from Bournemouth.

7.) 25 Jun 2026
24 Jun 2026 22:20:54
I'm with you, Bolger.

8.) 25 Jun 2026
25 Jun 2026 13:23:50
Scott is a good player. Mateus Fernandes looks to have really extraordinary potential, though. I said it elsewhere: if we were paying 70M for him (60M+10M add ons), I suspect most would view that as good value. To then say 80M or 85M is a massive overpay doesn't seem very consistent to me.

I'd also chill out on it a bit. I hope we get him, but if we don't, I'm liking some of the other names we're linked to. Like Scott. Or Nmecha. Or Wharton.

9.) 25 Jun 2026
25 Jun 2026 13:45:53
Of all the mids at the World Cup, I'd be keen to see Nmecha at Utd. He would be a great addition, imo.

10.) 25 Jun 2026
25 Jun 2026 15:45:18
Wharton would be interesting for me. Not sure how he's not made that England squad. Great passer of the ball, and sets the tempo well. Something we've not had since Carrick.

11.) 25 Jun 2026
25 Jun 2026 18:10:00
Carrick used to sit a bit deeper than Wharton. I tried to watch him as much as I could towards the end of last season. Some of his passes were very incisive, but I never felt he dominated midfield.

12.) 25 Jun 2026
25 Jun 2026 18:51:40
He's 22, Salford. He'll only get better. And I think that's just where Palace played him, their 3-5-2.

13.) 25 Jun 2026
25 Jun 2026 21:18:07
Unfortunately for Wharton, he just didn't have the vibes that Jordan Henderson brings to the squad. Good midfielders are ten a penny, but if you find someone with good vibes, you've hit the jackpot.

14.) 26 Jun 2026
25 Jun 2026 23:04:11
Stiller and Frankfurt would be a good buy.

15.) 26 Jun 2026
26 Jun 2026 08:28:59
Do we have to buy all of Frankfurt? Some parts aren't that great.

16.) 26 Jun 2026
26 Jun 2026 11:40:53
The thought of Mainoo and Scott against an elite CL midfield fills me with terror.

17.) 26 Jun 2026
26 Jun 2026 12:04:18
Mainoo was outstanding towards the end of the season, and there are rumours that Carrick may play a 3, so I think it would work.

18.) 26 Jun 2026
26 Jun 2026 21:58:02
AJH, how would you see a 3 working? Bruno and Cunha surely both play, and presumably Mbeumo.

19.) 27 Jun 2026
27 Jun 2026 05:26:15
I've no idea, Don, just a rumour I read. It would give us more control up front, but reduces the attacking threats.

20.) 27 Jun 2026
27 Jun 2026 09:25:52
Upfront? I meant in the middle.

21.) 27 Jun 2026
27 Jun 2026 16:00:31
For 80+ million, let him go. We could get a much better player for that outlay. He's not a bad player, but never in a million years an 80 million player. 2 relegations in 2 seasons. Not the winner we need. I'd take Camavinga or Tchouameni over him, and likely for less money. Wharton would be a better option for similar money.

22.) 27 Jun 2026
27 Jun 2026 17:48:12
I don't think Tchouameni would be cheaper, and I suspect there'd be higher wages and signing on fee.

23.) 28 Jun 2026
28 Jun 2026 09:14:55
Maybe Spenno. But undoubtedly a better player than Fernandes.

24.) 28 Jun 2026
28 Jun 2026 19:01:12
Eric, that very much depends on what the manager wants that player to do.
Touchi is better at some aspects of the game and very weak at others (highest level context).
If Carrick wants that type of defensive midfielder, he is one of the best. But if he wants a player to control the tempo, good range of passing, then there are many better than Touchi at that.
The problem with football fans is we all want what we want, and compare what we get to what we imagine it should be like.
It's about what Carrick wants from his no 6.

If he wants someone in his own mould then Touchi is not it.
But if he wants a Makelele type then Touchi is that.
imo, Touchi is an old school 6. Ederson is primarily that type of player.
Fernandes is not as good a player or as strong defensively but plays the 6 role differently, as did Carrick himself. He can also play 8 or 10.
I think both are very good players, very different.
Touchi is excellent in his way. Fernandes has the potential to do the same in his way.
Ideally you'd take both. ?

25.) 28 Jun 2026
28 Jun 2026 21:35:56
Time will tell, hopefully, Ken. We've not made a signing officially yet.

26.) 29 Jun 2026
29 Jun 2026 11:26:44
For the record, Eric, I'm not a fan of Touchi and there are others id personally prefer to both of those, but that's irrelevant. It's what Carrick wants. Kone from Roma is more suited to the EPL than Touchi, imo.
I'm hugely impressed by the young Moroccan lad, but he is only a kid and not ready for the EPL for another year at least.

id like to sign him and loan him back to Lille for another year, which is their request, I think, but we don't have the money for that.
I like Bruno at Newcastle, Baleba at Brighton, and Scott. Fernandes looks like he is about to blossom too. So I think we will get at least one of those, id be hoping for 2.

27.) 29 Jun 2026
29 Jun 2026 21:50:14
Bruno G at Newcastle would be fabulous. Huge fan of his.

28.) 30 Jun 2026
30 Jun 2026 18:22:07
Well, he's signing for Spurs. £85m is a ridiculous fee. A relegated team doubling their money on a player they had for one season. Plus, his willingness to join Spurs says a lot about his ambition.

29.) 30 Jun 2026
30 Jun 2026 18:50:14
He's dead to me. ??

30.) 30 Jun 2026
30 Jun 2026 20:06:49
3 relegations in 3 years incoming. That must be some kind of record. ?

31.) 30 Jun 2026
30 Jun 2026 20:42:59
There does indeed appear to be something in that rumour. ?

32.) 01 Jul 2026
01 Jul 2026 11:37:23
Brendon81,

That would be funny!