Spurs are primed to complete a deal for the 21-year-old at £85 million after submitting an offer that fits with his club’s valuation.
But Man Utd are already assessing other options that fit with their plans for next season.
As soon as West Ham were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season, it became clear Fernandes would become a summer departure, and Man Utd were early on the scene to understand the situation.
However, we reported how there was a stance inside Old Trafford that they would not overpay for the player.
We understand they were never willing to reach the amount West Ham were looking for.
The Hammers were in no rush to be dragged into a negotiation over the player’s £85 million fee - and it became clear over the past week that Tottenham were considering a way to satisfy that
It comes at a moment when they have been doing exactly the same thing in weighing up a deal for Sandro Tonali from Newcastle - and have been considering how the two deals weigh up against each other.
There has been a potential for them to move for both players if they can structure the deals in the ideal way.
Spurs are making a very strong push in the transfer market this summer and are pushing the limits of their financial capabilities in order to compete again at the top end of the Premier League.
But sources say that United found out Spurs were willing to pay up for Fernandes, and at that point decided not to compete.
As we have reported, United continue to look at other transfer targets including Alex Scott, Aurelien Tchouameni and Sander Berge - while they also have an eye on Ayyoub Bouaddi and Felix Nmecha.
Dean Jones is a transfer news and football insider for Flashscore, since 2025. He has been a journalist on leading UK newspapers and websites over the past 20 years, establishing himself as an authoritative and trusted voice in the industry.
