Manchester United have been handed a huge boost as the race to sign West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes hots up.

Man United are planning to sign as many as three new central midfielders this summer after deciding that was the area of the pitch that needed the most surgery ahead of their return to the Champions League next season.

They are right too, with the exit of Casemiro and the expected departure of Manuel Ugarte leaving Michael Carrick very short of quality and depth in the Red Devils’ engine room.

The club has already reached an agreement with Atalanta to bring Ederson to Old Trafford to plug one gap, but up to two more players could join if Ugarte goes and the deal conditions are right.

United’s top targets earlier in the summer were Nottingham Forest and England star Elliot Anderson and Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid, who they viewed as their ‘dream’ Casemiro successor, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Red Devils chiefs have since pivoted to Fernandes, sensing a strong market opportunity following West Ham’s relegation to the Championship.

Some negotiation will be needed though, with the Irons ready to demand big money for the Portugal international even if they find themselves in the second tier now.

Fernandes Has ‘Heart Set’ on United After Tottenham Approach

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GIVEMESPORT sources revealed at the start of the week that Tottenham had made contact over a potential move for Fernandes, and it was information backed up by David Ornstein later in the week, as he claimed that Roberto De Zerbi wanted to sign both the Portuguese star and Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali for his midfield.

A report on Saturday claims that Spurs are now ‘very close’ to an agreement on personal terms to sign Fernandes, although they are yet to make club-to-club contact with their London neighbours over a deal.

One top Tottenham source on X claims that even though the north Londoners are making their move for the promising 21-year-old, he has his ‘heart set’ on a move to Old Trafford.

That is no surprise either given that United captain Bruno Fernandes is one of his idols, and he would have the opportunity to link up closely with him if he joined the Red Devils.

The fee could prove to be an issue for both clubs though, with Romano reporting that West Ham ideally wanted £100m for the player, although a deal worth around £80-85m would likely be accepted.

Man United Have Fernandes Alternatives Lined Up

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According to GMS senior correspondent Ben Jacobs, United do have alternatives to Fernandes lined up if they are unable to agree a deal for the 21-year-old.

One of those is Fulham and Norway star Sander Berge, who they have discussed signing in recent weeks.

Another name is Carlos Baleba of Brighton and Hove Albion, who they attempted to sign last summer.

Jacobs says a move for the Cameroon international still ‘has legs’, and it has been confirmed by Romano that there is already an agreement on personal terms in place dating back to last summer’s talks.

Tottenham have made their move for Sandro Tonali, as David Ornstein reports that talks have opened with Newcastle United over a deal for the Italian international.

It comes as Spurs look to bolster their midfield ranks, having already moved fast to improve the defence with the signings of Jan Paul van Hecke, Marcos Senesi, and Andy Robertson.

The central options on the club’s shortlist have included Mateus Fernandes, but it seems as though the Lilywhites are accelerating in a possible deal to sign Tonali.

The 26-year-old emerged as a possible option as Newcastle appear open to a possible sale at the right price quoted at £100 million, with the Tottenham transfer target being described as a “monster”.

Tottenham Open Talks to Sign Sandro Tonali

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Tottenham have made a clear signal of intent to sign Tonali this summer, with Ornstein reporting that club-to-club contact has now been made for the midfielder.

Newcastle hold a deal until 2029 for the Italian international, as well as a one-year extension on top of that, suggesting there is no immediate need to sell.

However, links have persisted over a potential exit for the midfield ace, as Spurs join a whole host of rivals to land his signature this summer.

Manchester City have been listed as a potential landing spot, while Manchester United, Arsenal, and AC Milan have also been linked with a transfer for the Premier League star.

While it’s unclear exactly where Tonali could end up, the contact from Tottenham seemingly puts them ahead in the race, while reports have stated that there have already been positive talks between the Lilywhites and representatives of Tonali.

It would be quite the signing for Roberto De Zerbi, with another clear sign that the club is willing to invest heavily to improve the squad after last season’s struggles.

Tottenham Backing De Zerbi Vision

A move for Tonali, which could reach up to £100 million, would be quite a deal for Tottenham to pull off, considering the competition for the Newcastle ace.

It would also show a clear sign that the club is willing to back De Zerbi’s long-term vision for the club by adding some immediate quality into the squad.

It’s a similar move to what Man United did last season, signing proven Premier League quality in the peak of their career who can raise the floor of the team’s performances.

The midfield has been a clear problem area for Tottenham for several seasons now, and adding Tonali would go a long way to fix some of those issues.

Having already sealed three quick deals, a fourth for Tonali would show that Spurs mean business.

For over a decade, Roy Keane was an absolutely vital cog in the Manchester United machine. His time at Old Trafford saw him win seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the Champions League.

Iconic club manager Sir Alex Ferguson signed the Irishman from Nottingham Forest in 1993 and named him club captain after just four years. Together, they dominated English football but things ended on very bad terms.

Ever the outspoken character, Keane tore into a number of teammates in a club TV interview, which was not aired to the public. Ferguson was furious, and this was one of a few issues which ultimately led the midfielder to leave Old Trafford in November 2005.

Having spent 12 and a half years at Manchester United, Keane was naturally given a testimonial game to mark his exit from the club. However, manager Ferguson stopped one man from playing in the friendly fixture.

Man Utd Star Missed Roy Keane’s Testimonial

Ferguson’s decision was not made because he necessarily had an issue with Keane, but rather with Ruud van Nistelrooy. Indeed, the Dutch forward’s future had been the subject of intense speculation, and so was forbidden from playing in the testimonial.

As per Sky Sports’ report at the time, Van Nistelrooy was deeply upset that United had taken their hostility out on him in this way, and deprived ‘good friend’ Keane of his presence on the Irishman’s special night. The iconic club striker remarked:

As per BBC Sport, Keane was disappointed his former team-mate missed the game. He said: “I spoke to Ruud. It was unfortunate and disappointing he wasn’t here but everyone has their own path to go down.

“Ruud is still under contract to United and I wish him well.”

Van Nistelrooy Also Left Man Utd Amid Tension With Ferguson

With all the transfer speculation making headlines, Ferguson had also left Van Nistelrooy out of his team to face Charlton on the final day of the Premier League season. This robbed the striker of a final chance to say a proper goodbye to the Old Trafford faithful, as that would have been his final game for the club.

Having also not been able to play in Keane’s testimonial, Van Nistelrooy’s last match for Man Utd came in a 0-0 draw against Middlesbrough earlier in May. Speaking after the Charlton game, United boss Ferguson said:

“There have been a couple of issues during the week that concerned us in terms of the spirit of the club.

“On such an important day, I felt that Ruud should be left out. We will be discussing it with club directors.”

Van Nistelrooy would join Real Madrid in July that summer, having scored 150 goals for the Red Devils in 219 games.