Arsenal want the man who could have snatched the title away from them

Arsenal are said to be considering a move for Mateus Fernandes as Mikel Arteta prepares to revamp his midfield ahead of the new campaign. The West Ham United midfielder has caught the attention of several European clubs following a standout first season at the London Stadium. According to The Times, Arteta views Fernandes as a strong option to add depth and quality in the middle of the park.

The Arsenal boss is understood to admire players who combine technical ability with tactical flexibility — traits Fernandes has showcased throughout his debut Premier League campaign. The Portuguese youngster has featured 36 times across all competitions for West Ham, contributing four goals and three assists.

Capable of playing both in a deeper creative role and further forward in midfield, Fernandes fits the type of profile Arsenal are looking to recruit this summer. The Gunners are also reportedly open to offers for Christian Norgaard, whose opportunities have been limited since his arrival from Brentford. Should Fernandes arrive, he would likely battle for a place alongside established names such as Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi.

However, Arsenal are far from the only club monitoring the 21-year-old. Prior to his £38 million ($51m) switch from Southampton to West Ham last year, Fernandes attracted interest from as many as 10 clubs, among them Atletico Madrid. Interest in him has only grown since then, with Paris Saint-Germain also believed to be keeping close tabs on his progress while planning for the future alongside targets including Julian Alvarez.

West Ham remain eager to retain one of their brightest talents, though financial pressures could complicate matters. Fernandes signed a five-year contract when joining the Hammers, with the club holding an option to extend it by another year. Still, with concerns over their Premier League survival, relegation could force West Ham into selling valuable assets in order to satisfy financial regulations.

Southampton are also set to benefit from any future transfer after securing a 15 per cent sell-on clause during negotiations for Fernandes’ departure. As a result, a transfer battle involving Arsenal and PSG could generate a substantial fee for West Ham, even if it comes at the cost of losing one of the league’s emerging midfield prospects.

Before fully turning their attention to the transfer market, Arsenal remain focused on ending the season strongly. Arteta’s side are preparing for a crucial clash against Burnley as they continue their pursuit of a first Premier League title in more than 20 years, while also gearing up for a Champions League final showdown with Paris Saint-Germain.