On July 1, the Manchester Evening News reported that Manchester United refused to meet the asking prices for Anderson and Matheus Fernandes.
Manchester United is now taking a firm stance on player valuations, which has its merits. The club has set its own price assessments and is unwilling to budge easily. When Manchester City offered a nine-figure sum for Elliot Anderson, Manchester United declined; now that Tottenham Hotspur has agreed to pay €85 million for Matheus Fernandes, Manchester United has once again chosen to walk away.
Of course, other factors are at play. Anderson has made it clear he wants to join Manchester City, and Fernandes also appears hesitant about committing solely to Manchester United.
From a business standpoint, Manchester United's approach makes sense. Considering recent midfield transfer fees, Anderson's price is arguably close to market value, but Fernandes is harder to justify. After Southampton and West Ham United were relegated in consecutive seasons, his résumé remains unproven. Although this 21-year-old shows potential, converting that into consistent performances is not guaranteed, and Manchester United would have to invest significantly to take that bet.
At this price point, the club understandably expects more. Fernandes may not deliver what they need, and he is unlikely to be the kind of midfield signing who can immediately transform Manchester United into genuine title contenders next season.
The question now is where Manchester United turns next. Both of their top targets are moving to other Premier League clubs, and these deals will further inflate the market.
Just as Nottingham Forest used Chelsea's €115 million fee for Moisés Caicedo as a reference point, or Arsenal's €105 million spending on Rice in July 2023 as a benchmark, West Ham United can now absolutely use Anderson's €116 million transfer fee as justification when evaluating Fernandes.
So when Manchester United considers ramping up interest in Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, or returning to Brighton to pursue Baleba, they may discover that valuations have climbed another notch. That's simply how the market works now.
Looking back, Manchester United's most glaring midfield mistake in recent years may have been failing to push harder for a deal before Rice joined Arsenal. Manchester United had long admired the England international and watched him perform against them at Old Trafford for years.
Rice was open to joining Manchester United at the time, but the move never happened.
Had Manchester United been more aggressive then, the transfer could have gone through. If so, Rice and Mainoo would almost certainly form a successful and stable long-term midfield partnership for Manchester United.
In reality, Manchester United is still searching for a partner for Mainoo. Casemiro has already left, and Enzo Silva will join from Atalanta, but the club had hoped to secure another marquee signing. Now that seems unlikely, and these midfield moves this summer have driven prices higher still. Manchester United is holding firm on its valuations and refuses to be dictated to by rivals, but finding a midfield bargain at a price they find acceptable is now probably as elusive as finding a unicorn.
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Gfelixco1
0
Buy Tonali
tonali is gone already
Diaabltyz
0
Please understand, MU have to set aside money to repair the leaking Old Trafford roof.
PEFanny
0
man u are not seriously with w what's they are doing nw because key players they just see and sign poor players aaaaa be serious sometime 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢😢
Asapmills
1
Buy Tonali
zisbcknsy
0
Gibbs-white, neco willams, alex scott, maxi auraujo, dean henderson, kimmich, saibari, Osimhen, van de ven, murillo, sholotobeck, thuameni, camavinga, Bellingham n so many other great players... Manu need to sign some to be able to compete n win trofies but isn't 😢 Mr carrick plz we believe in u now so plz.. 🙏
Secikmrtyz
1
keep on walking
sitenopy
0
Sandro tonali last target.. Angelo stiller is also an option
zisbcknsy
0
We need maxi araujo, josha kimmich, morgan gibbswhite n Osimhen 🙏💯
suwbcdmnor
1
as much as I want a good midfield player that can make united compete on all fronts these halfwits not worth it. they're not even solely holding on to united as mbuemo n cunha did....dey not worth it....
Davichi
2
United need to find a way to get reinforcement, but I won't criticise the refusal to pay over the board for any player. Right from Woodward's administration, United over spent on players and gave them higher wages than they're worth. The club has been finding it difficult to change that trend so if they're going to get it right this way, it's fine.
Williamslad
0
English players are just too expensive only ¼ % of England players give performances that befits their transfer fee
sokeiknos
0
united must get serious
sokeiknos
0
Manchester united is the richest club in England but can't afford to buy quality players only affording average players.. This is not making sense an as a fun it hurts me to much. an that's why we can't win premier league mark my words
A player like Fernandez is 21 years old still young and talented but we can afford him to buy him on £ 85 why ??
kg-4991
0
Manchester united is the richest club in England but can't afford to buy quality players only affording average players.. This is not making sense an as a fun it hurts me to much. an that's why we can't win premier league mark my words
Shut your trap buddy. It's not about not being able to afford. United can even afford Mbappe if the asking price is 350M. It's about what's the point of spending 130M for Anderson and 85M for Fernandez. Big money comes with a bigger target on their head. Kids like these, would be put under immense pressure by you and me, due to the price tag. Remember how many players we bought for huge money and we ourselves ended up cursing them. While players like Amad playing beautiful game.
pehcinsz
0
PROMOTE Academy Players to fill up that midfield position... Man. Utd. should NOT pay exorbitant prices for any player
sokeiknos
1
Manchester united is the richest club in England but can't afford to buy quality players only affording average players.. This is not making sense an as a fun it hurts me to much. an that's why we can't win premier league mark my words
donreal1990
0
we are champions League team, we can't beg for a player
Yezaknsty
1
They always want united to over pay for players not happening, we will get two gd midfielders some of them so overrated
Dobblmrsu
0
as team we need have coach who has demand to the board but Carrick,mm this is not coach that man u can take league.
tibaiorsu
0
man utd bosses are jokers. They love the money more than the club
huhackoptu
1
They are looking for a way to be shifting poor performance blame on Carrick comes next season for not giving him the players he wants
Labadkotyz
0
tonali plssss
Royacdklop
1
spurs will had vision and they plan big this season
Rudceklmnr
3
no man utd tax again for those clubs thinking they can force utd to overpay for their average players
Dobblmrsu
0
the owner of this mmmmmm no player is in why? we can not take premier league if will not take good players
wutbceikmr
0
so?
Vozbcdioz
4
look at maresca at Chelsea with a lot of expensive signing...crushed
Vozbcdioz
2
Trust me Matheus Fernandez will bring down Spurs...
Pipdkloptu
0
thats the only problem man united has they their target easily join their rivals
ruoabelrz
0
If Man U is going on like this, will end up with poor and with no quality players.
Rhykon
0
Spurs nearly relegated in 2 seasons. The board had to do something and get players in, hence why speding huge amounts for these players. also 235.000 a week wages, unheard of for a Tottenham player. with all the injuries mending , Spurs will be a different squad this seadon or should be. Time will tell.
Will the money be given to you if they don’t sign big players. Man, they have to spend more money on players because our happiness depends on playing good football. Moreover, they are playing because of us supporters please let’s forget that mentality and let them sign big players. Madrid and psg spend more money on players and they are making it
abdulgg
5
with do Respect we don't need them 😁 😉
Wamelpstuy
0
it was your kind of mindset that almost destroyed ManU in the past years. It appears that you have a short memory. Some of these so-called Midfielders are not even better than our Academy players. If the worst comes to the worst, we will look inwards and promote some of our Academy players to first team players and have faith in them to deliver. Selling Clubs like Westham will buy Academy players at 5M, expose them for one season and sell to clubs like Man united for 85M. Why are we afraid to expose our Academy players only to spend big on players that are no better than our Academy players? why do we even have an Academy in the first place.
Leave them they will still be the ones to blame the board for paying such a fee for an average player. I’m so happy with the progress we’ve made in negotiating with clubs and players
raoacdmnrz
0
Spurs nearly relegated in 2 seasons. The board had to do something and get players in, hence why speding huge amounts for these players. also 235.000 a week wages, unheard of for a Tottenham player. with all the injuries mending , Spurs will be a different squad this seadon or should be. Time will tell.
Wamelpstuy
0
we are talking about experience players. not about relegation
You’re a fool to call Fernandez experienced
SakkieBruno
2
So Spurs is next to getting relegated with Fernandes, all the best to the championship
Wakbost
1
This is why Manchester united team is finding it difficult to win the premier league
SakkieBruno
0
tonali agreed personal terms with spurs. soon he will join.
Are you sure 🤔 😏 he will
kinghills
0
Man United seems to be beating around the bush, they will be so shocked when deadline approaches and they haven't made additional significant signing, they will be forced to rush and sign incapable players. They better wake up.
RobertPendapalaMutot
1
man u must sign Alex Scott or Adam Wharton
Yumaklntyz
1
man united please abeg you people's to buying some players abeg.
Bupekpryz
5
this is the best decision I have ever seen Utd made 85m is ridiculous for a player who went religation twice in 2 seasons. by the way he is not a superstar
Supadeklsy
0
Stand your ground on what you believe to be right.
Yipacdist
1
The poorest department to Manchester united it's the management
Koacdknsy
0
We want to win the premier league but we don’t want to spend 100 on midfielders
it was your kind of mindset that almost destroyed ManU in the past years. It appears that you have a short memory. Some of these so-called Midfielders are not even better than our Academy players. If the worst comes to the worst, we will look inwards and promote some of our Academy players to first team players and have faith in them to deliver. Selling Clubs like Westham will buy Academy players at 5M, expose them for one season and sell to clubs like Man united for 85M. Why are we afraid to expose our Academy players only to spend big on players that are no better than our Academy players? why do we even have an Academy in the first place.
wiabcersy
1
Nowadays football is business United is empty barry only noise can make u feel their presence, We're no more outside top 4, we have a lot of competitions and we only need quantity players not quantity 😉 I pity for Michael Carrick before this United board will make him regret as United boss
kandmopty
0
Here’s we have more midfielders and top wingers starting from 120 millions up to 150 or 230 million just shake your packet your spend money 💰 💰 💰 💰 spend money gets champions league
meabcdeknz
0
Man uUtd us learning from their mistakes in the past
Kaucdmosz
4
Yes go... West Ham can only rob Tottenham & not Man utd 😅
Jitenrsuyz
2
Man Utd has started regular behavior every year hmmm