By Scott Allen
The Premier League vultures are already starting to circle West Ham’s squad with relegation to the Championship looming large on the horizon.
The Irons have just 10 games to claw themselves away from dropping into the Championship for the first time since 2011/12, and holding on to their best players is already a major concern.
The situation hasn’t been helped by the club recently announcing a £104.2m loss for the year ending 31 May 2025 – and admitting “further player trading” will be needed in the summer.
Bright spark
West Ham’s Portuguese midfielder Mateus Fernandes has been one of the few bright sparks in the East London club’s miserable season, and Manchester United have already reportedly been keenly monitoring his progress.
Now with a potential firesale on the cards if West Ham fail to conjure up the ‘Great Escape 2.0’, Liverpool are also increasing their interest in the 21-year-old.
Fernandes, who joined West Ham in August 2025 for around £40m, has scored three goals for the club and provided three assists and is already the backbone of the club’s midfield.
Increased importance
His importance only increased further when Lucas Paqueta joined Flamengo in January.
Liverpool currently have a strong midfield but could lose Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Curtis Jones over the summer if the transfer rumour mill is to be believed.
Well-respected Liverpool journalist David Lynch recently revealed that he expects Fernandes to be high on Liverpool’s summer shopping list.
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Looks a good player
Lynch told Anfield Index: “He looks a good player, and they’re in a bit of trouble at the moment.
“He’s only 21 and he just looks a real talent, and suited to the Premier League as it is now as well.
“I don’t doubt he’s someone they’re kind of keeping an eye on and it’s all about what needs come up for Liverpool, do they need in that position, and does someone leave that opens up an opportunity?
“But if they do, they do watch these things and we’ve seen with the [Xherdan] Shaqiri deal, the Georginio Wijnaldum deal that they will look to these clubs that go down, and if they’ve got players they like they will go for them.”
West Ham will obviously want to hold on to Fernandes for as long as possible, especially as he is only one year into a five-year contract. However, potential relegation to England’s second tier will no doubt force their hand.
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