Mateus Fernandes: Tottenham agree £85m deal for West Ham midfielder

Tottenham have agreed an £85m deal to sign Portugal midfielder Mateus Fernandes from West Ham.

The north London club saw off competition from Manchester United, who were unwilling to match the fee agreed by Spurs – which is a guaranteed £85m without add-ons.

The 21-year-old was viewed as a primary target for Tottenham after their £80m to sign Sandro Tonali was rejected by Newcastle.

Tottenham have made a fast start in the transfer market this summer, having already signed four players.

Last week, they agreed a deal to sign goalkeeper Martin Dubravka on a free transfer once his contract with Burnley expires on 1 July.

The 37-year-old Slovakia keeper was another defensive reinforcement following the signings of Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson – also on free transfers from Bournemouth and Liverpool – and Netherlands defender Jan Paul van Hecke, who cost £52m from Brighton.

Attention then turned to central midfield but a move for Tonali proved difficult.

The Italian has four years left on his contract after signing an extension to his deal to repay the faith Newcastle showed in him during his 10-month ban for breaching the Football Association’s betting rules.

Fernandes – despite back-to-back Premier League relegations – has been in high demand this summer with Manchester United and Paris St-Germain both showing interest.