An £80 million 'blockbuster' transfer is on the verge of happening if West Ham are relegated.

Following Manchester United, Arsenal have also added Mateus Fernandes to their priority list as they aim to rebuild their midfield for the upcoming season.

Fernandes (right) is on the radar of both Manchester United and Arsenal.

According to The Athletic , the 21-year-old West Ham midfielder made a strong impression in his first season in the Premier League. Fernandes played 36 games in all competitions, scoring 4 goals and providing 3 assists, becoming one of the Hammers' most notable discoveries.

What particularly interests manager Mikel Arteta about Fernandes is his versatility. The Portuguese star can play as a deep-lying playmaker or push forward to support the attack, fitting the ball-possession philosophy that Arsenal pursues.

If the deal goes through, Fernandes will compete with Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi for a place in midfield. Conversely, the Emirates Stadium club are willing to listen to offers for Christian Norgaard after a season where he was not a regular starter.

West Ham certainly don't want to lose one of their most important players. However, the threat of relegation forces the club to sell Fernandes in order to balance their finances and meet sustainable profit regulations. West Ham are hoping to recoup up to £80 million from this transfer.

Notably, Arsenal will not have an easy time winning this race. Before joining West Ham from Southampton for £38 million last summer, Fernandes was pursued by more than 10 clubs, including Atletico Madrid.

Currently, Manchester United has also entered the fray and is closely monitoring the situation of the young Portuguese midfielder. The Manchester club wants to add promising talents to serve their long-term plans.

Source: https://znews.vn/bom-tan-80-trieu-bang-cho-no-neu-west-ham-rot-hang-post1651831.html