Manchester United have made an inquiry this week for M.F., with an offer far below £80 million. M.F. has told West Ham he only wants to join United.

Manchester United have stated unequivocally in talks with West Ham that they will not overpay for Matheus Fernandes. This 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder is the primary focus of the Red Devils' recruitment drive, having withdrawn from the competition for Elliot Anderson and concluding that Sandro Tonali's price is too high. M.F. is seen as a more realistic option.

Most importantly, M.F. has not hidden his strong desire to join Manchester United, intending to leave West Ham after their relegation to the Championship. This is a stark contrast to Anderson's preference for Manchester City or Tonali's unwillingness to force an exit from Newcastle.

Since taking over the club, Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the INEOS team have prioritized signing players who are fully committed to playing for the Red Devils.

According to the Daily Mirror, M.F. has informed West Ham of his wish to join Manchester United this summer. He admires Red Devils captain Bruno Fernandes and has been a follower of Old Trafford since the Cristiano Ronaldo era.

Moreover, M.F. is eager to participate in the Champions League, a competition Manchester United has qualified for next season. Consequently, M.F. is leaning towards a move to United, meaning personal terms are not an obstacle.

However, the main hurdle is West Ham's valuation. The Daily Mirror reports, the "Hammers" estimate M.F.'s worth at over £80 million. West Ham believes M.F., as one of the Premier League's brightest young talents, could command a fee exceeding £100 million in the near future, similar to Declan Rice.

West Ham naturally hopes to spark a bidding war, leveraging interest from top clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid to drive up the price and maximize the transfer fee for M.F.

Manchester United, however, are reluctant to meet this asking price. They feel M.F. has shown potential but has yet to truly prove himself at the highest level, given that both Southampton and West Ham relegated during his tenure, and he was left out of Portugal's World Cup squad.

M.F. is valued at €50 million by Transfermarkt, which is considered more realistic. Nonetheless, Manchester United and other Premier League clubs are aware of the chain reaction from Nottingham Forest's rejection of Manchester City's £120 million bid for Anderson, which will inevitably inflate and overvalue midfielder transfers this summer.

It is expected that Manchester United will submit their first bid later this week, but the amount will be well below West Ham's £80 million asking price. Whether the two clubs can agree on a fee remains to be seen, with a prolonged negotiation expected.

Given M.F.'s desire to join Manchester United, the club has the leverage to refuse a rushed deal and adopt a delaying tactics in hopes of securing a deal on their terms. This approach mirrors how Barcelona handled the pursuit of Rashford this summer, or Real Betis' acquisition of Antony last year.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have also finalized plans for their first summer signing, Ederson. Ederson, the 26-year-old Atalanta midfielder currently in the U.S. for the World Cup, did not play in Brazil's 1-1 draw with Morocco. After the match, Italian newspaper Corriere dello reported that Ederson has undergone a medical with Manchester United on Sunday.

However, the Manchester Evening News has denied that the medical is complete, but regardless, Ederson is expected to officially sign for Manchester United after Brazil's World Cup campaign ends, completing a £39 million transfer before starting a three-week holiday. He will only fully integrate with the squad later in the pre-season in August.

Manchester United have also denied rumors of a £60 million deal with Newcastle United for Lewis Hall worth £60 million. Although Manchester United remains very highly of the England international, they will not sign a new left-back until the midfield signing is completed.