Tottenham have stepped up pursuit of West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes after their £80m bid for Sandro Tonali fell through. The 21‑year‑old Portugal international is now Spurs’ primary target, with negotiations reported as progressing positively. West Ham are said to ask around £80m for the player, who also attracted interest from Manchester United and PSG, and could become a cornerstone of their Premier League campaign.

Last week Newcastle turned down Tottenham’s offer for Tonali, also valued near £80m, leaving Spurs to reassess their midfield options. Roberto de Zerbi, a known admirer of the Italian, has already mapped out a potential structure for the deal. Meanwhile, Tottenham have already secured four arrivals this summer, including free‑signings Martin Dubravka, Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, plus Jan Paul van Hecke for £52m, and strengthens squad depth.

Adding Fernandes would give Zerbi a deeper, ball‑playing option to complement Robertson’s left flank and van Hecke’s defensive solidity. At £80m the fee would rank among the season’s biggest expenditures, testing the club’s newly‑balanced books after a busy transfer window. Tottenham appear ready to commit significant resources to secure a midfield upgrade now.