West Ham United, whether they knew it or not, took a leaf out of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool playbook during the summer transfer window.
The Liverpool side which followed up a sixth European title in 2019 with a maiden Premier League title in 2020 contained, in addition to superstar forwards Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, the trio of Andy Robertson, Gini Wijnaldum and Xherdan Shaqiri.
Three players Liverpool snapped up from relegated clubs. Robertson from Hull, Shaqiri from Stoke. Wijnaldum arrived after Rafa Benitez had failed to save Newcastle from the drop.
This is a rather long-winded way of explaining that there is value to be found in the ‘recently-relegated’ market. The £40 million West Ham United paid when offering former Southampton midfielder Mateus Fernandes a second stab at the big time may have appeared on the expensive side, but it is testament to his recent performances that few are mentioning that price-tag these days.
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Even during Southampton’s largely pathetic 2024/25 campaign – only the infamous Derby County outfit accumulated fewer than their 12 points – Fernandes was being labelled ‘an ultimate Premier League’ midfielder.
Or, as was probably more pertinent, a footballer with the potential and the skillset to become an ‘ultimate Premier League midfielder’.
Mateus Fernandes really can be ‘an ultimate Premier League midfielder’ at West Ham United
With every ferocious, thrusting performance in West Ham colours, the glowing praise of former Saints skipper Jo Tessem feels more and more fitting.
“Mateus Fernandes is on people’s radar because, every week, he plays his heart out. He is by far the best player on the football pitch from a Saints perspective,” Tessem told BBC Radio Solent Southampton, albeit there was not much competition for that particular crown.
“He is becoming an ultimate Premier League midfielder.
“He plays like a Premier League player. He passes like a Premier League player. He is quick like a Premier League player. He conducts himself so well in midfield.”
Russell Martin, shortly before his sacking at St Mary’s, insisted that Fernandes could not be summed up by his ‘talent, guile, [or] creativity’, but also his ‘intensity, desire, and fight to win’.
And Vasco Seabra, who worked with Fernandes during a loan spell at Estoril in 2023/24, highlighted to the BBC; “a player with so many qualities that adapt so well to the Premier League. He is a very strong and aggressive player with a great ability to cover a lot of ground. He can run many kilometres per game, works hard for the team and can play further back, in the initial build-up phase.”
Seabra also explained that, such was Fernandes’ versatility, he utilised the Portugal Under-21 captain as a deep-lying midfielder, a number ten, and even wide on the flanks.
In his first four months at West Ham, the Sporting Lisbon academy graduate has not only played in a similarly wide variety of positions and formations, he has adapted pretty instantaneously to all.
Fernandes tops the charts at the London Stadium
Furthermore, while Mateus Fernandes ranks alongside Lucas Paqueta with the most chances created of any Hammers player – 17 apiece – his tackles per game average of 2.6 is also the highest in Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad.
He completed a staggering eight tackles, six interceptions and won a Premier League-high 16 duels in last week’s 1-1 draw with Brighton and Hove Albion.
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When you consider that Mateus Fernandes also topped the charts for tackles and chances created during his one and only season at Southampton, it becomes increasingly clear what Jo Tessem meant when he said the all-action Iberian had what it took to become an ‘ultimate Premier League midfielder’.
Or, to put it another way, a ‘complete Premier League midfielder’. A jack of all trades and a master of many. A footballer for all seasons, most positions, and with a skillset as wide as the Thames itself.
Jurgen Klopp, arguably the finest exponent of signing giving relegated players a second chance, would be proud.
“I see that he has the capacity, the versatility of actually occupying several positions on the field,” Nuno told DAZN Portugal shortly after his appointment . “So, I believe that he can play inside, he can play on the outside, he can play, if we want, as a ‘ten’ or play as a ‘six’.
“He has that ability.
“[But which midfield partner is] better for Mateus to have by his side? Can he produce better? Therefore, this identification, if you will, of partnerships, of the communication between players, the triangles, the pivots, is what helps the players to improve.
“I think last year at Southampton, Mateus went through a very difficult year. It was a complicated year for him. The demands [placed on him] were tremendous,” Nuno says.
“I think that made it grow. It helped in that aspect, but the fact of not having had many moments of genuine joy during the competition, it wasn’t good either.
“So, let’s try to look for him to feel happier.”
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