Manchester United fans were in for a shock recently as Spurs arrived on the Mateus Fernandes scene with gusto.
The signing of Mateus Fernandes from West Ham was believed to be a matter of when, and not if, for Manchester United.
Fernandes was desperate for Old Trafford; United had walked away from Elliot Anderson, and Ederson’s World Cup call-up made Fernandes a priority.
However, shockwaves went through Man Utd fans when it emerged that Fernandes was agreeing personal terms with Spurs. Here’s what it means.
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Spurs progress on Mateus Fernandes deal
For a club that recently bid £75m for Sandro Tonali, Spurs were everyone’s last bet for entrants into the Mateus Fernandes sweepstakes.
When even the likes of Real Madrid and PSG have been rejected in favour of a move to Man Utd, Spurs progressing on Fernandes was a surprise.
It was recently reported that they had agreed on personal terms with the player, with no club-to-club negotiations taking place so far.
That sent panic through the Man Utd fanbase, but for anyone who has watched how Fernandes’ agent operates in the market, it shouldn’t come as a surprise.
His agent is none other than Jorge Mendes, and United have played this game before. Fans need to be calm, because a predictable narrative is playing out right now.
Man Utd, Mateus Fernandes, and Jorge Mendes 101
Fernandes has chosen Utd by all accounts, and United have made him their prime target.
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That makes it a nightmare for the selling club as well as the agent, who make their money from a bidding war among interested parties.
United are reluctant to match West Ham’s asking price, and because the player has chosen United, Mendes can’t offer him around to other clubs either.
This update of Spurs agreeing personal terms with Fernandes is a way for Mendes to smoke out United and hurry them into action.
It’s hard to believe that a race which the likes of PSG, Real Madrid, and Arsenal lost to Man Utd will be won by Spurs, especially when their interest in Tonali is much more real and concrete.
United need to hold their nerve, call out Mendes and West Ham’s bluff, and bring Fernandes home. Everything else is white noise induced to cause chaos and panic.
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