Following the completed signature of Atalanta midfielder Ederson for roughly £38m, Manchester United have turned their attention toward West Ham‘s breakout star Mateus Fernandes.
Self-proclaimed ‘man in the know’ Fabrizio Romano confirmed that a deal is very much on for the highly rated Portuguese player, with United engaging in direct communication to secure his services.
Old Trafford chiefs are eager to finalise the agreement swiftly to avoid any late competition from European suitors.
Fernandes is reportedly incredibly keen on making the switch to the North West, though a final transfer fee must still be negotiated with West Ham.
Rumours suggest that United are prepared to assemble a massive double raid alongside teammate Crysencio Summerville, which could eventually cost the club up to £130m.
This aggressive recruitment strategy highlights the significant shift in philosophy since the departure of former head coach Ruben Amorim in January.
Carrick, who successfully guided the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League places during the final months of the campaign, is being heavily backed by the INEOS leadership team.
The pursuit of Fernandes is deemed essential due to a sweeping clearance of the first-team squad. With Casemiro departing and Manuel Ugarte expected to follow him out of the exit door, Carrick requires elite technical quality to partner Ederson in the engine room.