Fabrizio Romano confirms “important” Mateus Fernandes update out of West Ham

Mateus Fernandes has become one of the hottest properties in English football following an outstanding 2025/26 campaign at West Ham, attracting rumoured interest from the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Man City, Man United, PSG and Real Madrid.

While West Ham endured a miserable season that ultimately ended in relegation, Fernandes was one of the few shining lights in an otherwise difficult campaign.

Week after week, the Portuguese midfielder demonstrated exactly why he is regarded as one of the brightest young talents in the Premier League.

His energy, technical ability and maturity consistently stood out, even as results around him continued to disappoint.

In many ways, Fernandes’ performances only strengthened the belief that he was operating at a level above the situation West Ham found themselves in.

That has inevitably attracted attention.

Any player capable of producing at such a high level in a struggling side is always going to generate significant interest, particularly when they still have their best years ahead of them.

For West Ham supporters, there has been an acceptance that keeping hold of Fernandes following relegation was always going to be an enormous challenge.

The midfielder’s quality has rarely been questioned.

The bigger question has been whether any interested club would be prepared to meet the valuation West Ham have placed on one of their most prized assets.

Now, Fabrizio Romano has provided a major update on the situation.

West Ham make Fernandes demand after ‘important’ Fabrizio Romano update

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano revealed that West Ham have made their stance crystal clear regarding Fernandes’ future.

According to the transfer expert, the Hammers have refused to budge on their £85 million asking price of the midfielder.

That figure immediately places Fernandes among the most expensive potential transfers of the window and underlines just how highly West Ham rate the Portugal international.

Romano also suggested there is little expectation that Fernandes will remain at the club following relegation.

The belief is that the midfielder will move on before the transfer window closes, with interest continuing to build from clubs capable of offering him top-flight football and the opportunity to compete at a higher level.

However, West Ham are determined to ensure they receive maximum value if they are going to lose one of their standout performers.

From the club’s perspective, that approach is understandable.

Fernandes is still developing, has already proven himself in one of the world’s toughest leagues and possesses the type of profile that modern clubs are desperate to acquire.

Young, technically gifted midfielders with Premier League experience do not come onto the market very often.

The £85m valuation may look ambitious for a Championship side at first glance, but West Ham know they are not dealing with an ordinary transfer situation.

They are negotiating from a position where a plethora of top clubs are believed to be keen, potentially sparking an auction, and where the player still has significant room for growth.

The coming weeks will reveal whether any club is willing to meet those demands.

What appears increasingly certain, however, is that Fernandes’ future lies away from the Championship.

West Ham may be preparing for life in the second tier, but the club is undergoing a significant shake-up, with ex-co-chair David Sullivan resigning from his post this week and joining Karren Brady out of the door.