Mateus Fernandes transfer: Man Utd 'making same mistake as with Kane and Rice' says legend

A Manchester United great is worried that that the club will make the same mistake with Mateus Fernandes as they did in the past with Declan Rice and Harry Kane.

United are closing in on a deal for the midfielder with an agreement already made with the player who has plenty of suitors in the Premier League.

Tottenham are also in the race for his signature while Liverpool are another club to have made an initial enquiry.

But former United striker Teddy Sheringham doesn't think that Fernandes has the quality to play at Old Trafford and that Sir Alex Ferguson would never go for him.

He told ComeOn: "I wasn’t so impressed with Mateus Fernandes at West Ham last season. A lot of West Ham fans think he’ll go on to bigger and better things but the jury’s still out for me on Fernandes.

"Manchester United need top players. They’ve already got enough decent players. They need to buy the top players or they will miss out again and again."

And he thinks that United shouldn't make the same mistake as they did in the past and not go for proven quality like Kane and Rice.

"It was the same with Harry Kane and Declan Rice a few years ago when the chance was there to go and sign them," continued Sheringham.

"United were nowhere in the market for them. Sir Alex Ferguson wouldn’t have let that happen.

"Sir Alex always brought in the top players and they came in and led by example, and you need those top players at a club like United otherwise you’ll end up in the same situation.

"It’s not about having good players. You want great players playing for Manchester United because it takes a lot to play for the club. So go out and break the bank for the top players and let them lead."

United are looking to strengthen in midfield this summer following the departure of Casemiro with Manuel Ugarte also for sale.

Atalanta star Ederson is set to officially join Michael Carrick's side after the World Cup in a £38million deal.

Along with Fernandes, United have been linked to a long list of other midfielders while they appear to have lost out to Manchester City for who would have been their first choice Elliott Anderson.

West Ham also will not allow Fernandes to leave without a sizeable profit on the £40 million they paid for him last year. It is understood that they want to at least double that fee and will want more than £80million.

Tottenham according to The Times are willing to pay that fee and also have an understanding with the player but Fernandes would still prefer United who offer Champions League football.