Arsenal want to sign West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes this summer.
The Times are reporting that Mikel Arteta is a big admirer of the 21-year-old, and if the Hammers are relegated, they will have little choice but to sell.
Fernandes joined West Ham from Southampton last summer for an initial £38 million, but his value has since shot up after a breakthrough season that has made that fee look, in retrospect, quite reasonable.
Five goals and four assists across 40 appearances is a decent return, but it’s his all-round midfield play that has caught the eye.
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Arteta has a well-established track record of favouring technically gifted, versatile players capable of operating in multiple positions — and even more so, ones who are Premier League proven.
Fernandes fits that profile rather neatly, offering flexibility in the middle of the park with his ability to play deeper or further forward.
Why Fernandes could be another Aaron Ramsdale case
Fans will remember that Aaron Ramsdale suffered back-to-back relegations with Bournemouth and Sheffield United before arriving at Arsenal in 2021.
The £30 million signing raised eyebrows at the time, but he quickly established himself as a very good Premier League goalkeeper.
Fernandes is on a similar trajectory, having been relegated with Southampton last season, and now potentially heading down again with West Ham.
He would arrive considerably more highly regarded than Ramsdale was, though.
And unsurprisingly, Arsenal aren’t alone in monitoring Fernandes, with Manchester United and PSG also interested.
How Fernandes would fit into Arsenal’s midfield plans
Arsenal’s midfield picture heading into next season is one of the more fascinating aspects of their summer planning.
Martin Zubimendi, signed last summer with considerable fanfare, has found the relentless volume of high-intensity fixtures difficult to sustain.
That’s understandable, given Declan Rice is the only outfield player to have racked up more minutes for the Gunners this season.
Zubimendi’s form has dipped, and he has since lost his place to Myles Lewis-Skelly in recent weeks, which is not quite how anyone imagined that going just one month ago.
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Fernandes would slot in as a dynamic, jack-of-all-trades option alongside Rice, Zubimendi and Lewis-Skelly.
With Christian Norgaard’s future at the club uncertain following his international retirement and just 56 Premier League minutes this season, Arsenal are keen to refresh that depth.
Four high-quality central midfielders competing for places — Rice, Zubimendi, Lewis-Skelly and Fernandes — would give Arteta Manchester City-like depth in that area.
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