El Hadji Malick Diouf is not the only West Ham United player on Manchester United’s radar amid their ongoing interest in Mateus Fernandes.
Only a few days ago were Manchester United linked with a move for Diouf, who has enjoyed a promising if slightly unconvincing first season in the Premier League.
How does Mateus Fernandes compare to a young Declan Rice? 🇵🇹
What can he still IMPROVE upon?
Clearly, the future of key West Ham players this summer depends upon Premier League survival, but the likes of Diouf could well be in demand.
Despite what is increasingly looking like a rather miserable season for the collective here in east London, the Red Devils are also keen on Fernandes.
West Ham want to make a big profit on Fernandes as Man Utd circle
According to The Daily Telegraph, the Old Trafford giants decided not to make a move for the Portugal international last summer after former club Southampton were relegated despite their interest.
It was West Ham who decided to buy the midfielder and Fernandes has proven to be a successful signing for the Hammers.
What a sorry old mess 😪 How have we let it slip AGAIN?!
Still, and while the Irons want to keep one of their star players, the report adds that they are likely to face a battle to keep him even if they do stay in the Premier League.
It’s further claimed that West Ham would want considerably more than the £38million (plus £4million in add-ons) than they paid for him.
Unsurprisingly, the 21-year-old is expected to leave if the club do fall into the Championship at the end of the season.
In an ideal world, West Ham would keep a player like Fernandes and build around him for many years to come.
Modern football, however, rarely tends to work that way.
One solace that can be taken is that West Ham are likely to receive an awful lot of interest in the midfielder this summer, and a bidding war would work in their favour should they be tempted to sell.
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