Manchester United have been handed a major boost in their pursuit of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes with the Portugal international admitting he’d jump at the chance to line up alongside his idol Bruno Fernandes.
The 22 year old has emerged as a genuine target for the Old Trafford hierarchy as they look to reshape their midfield this summer. With Casemiro expected to head for the exit door, reinforcements are very much on the agenda, and Fernandes has crept onto the list as a potential second signing behind a more marquee arrival.
And if INEOS do decide to firm up their interest, it sounds like they’ve already got one hell of a secret weapon.
That would be the man wearing the captain’s armband.
Speaking while away on international duty with Portugal, the West Ham star didn’t hold back when asked about the influence of his compatriot.
“I was a little nervous on the first day because I was going to train with players I saw on television and who were role models,” Fernandes told O Jogo.
“The biggest one right now is Bruno [Fernandes] because of the player he already is. Back when I was at Sporting, I looked up to him and tried to learn from him. He plays in the same league as me, he has a lot of experience with the national team, and, in the Premier League, I try to watch him a lot. Without a doubt, he stands out.”
That admiration could prove pivotal if United decide to firm up their interest.
West Ham’s own financial situation means they could be forced into selling the former Sporting man this summer and with Fernandes apparently desperate to link up with his hero, the Red Devils look well placed to win any potential scramble for his signature.
But he’s not the only young Portuguese midfielder looking up to the United skipper.
Sporting CP star Joao Simoes, widely regarded as one of the finest young talents coming through in Portugal right now, has also namechecked Bruno Fernandes as his main reference point in the senior national team.
“The main reference in the senior national team is Bruno Fernandes, but I played against Vitinha recently, and I could see why he is so highly praised,” Simoes told RTP Sport.
“I try to take a bit from each of them and apply it to each game. I will work as hard as I can to reach where they are.”
With Bruno’s own future at Old Trafford still to be fully resolved, United’s ability to use their captain as a magnet for emerging talent is no small detail.
Whether it’s Fernandes this summer or Simoes further down the line, having a Portuguese linchpin at the heart of the midfield could yet prove to be United’s smartest long term play.
