How Roberto De Zerbi sold Mateus Fernandes on Tottenham project with multiple phone calls

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After a lengthy transfer saga, Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a deal to sign Mateus Fernandes, beating Manchester United to the highly-rated West Ham United midfielder.

Less than a year after ending a 14-year wait to sign a player directly from West Ham United with the arrival of Mohammed Kudus, Spurs look set to complete another deal with the Hammers.

Fernandes had already given the green light to joining Tottenham last week after also indicating he was open to a move to Manchester United. That left both clubs battling it out with West Ham United, with the outcome expected to depend on which side matched the Hammers’ valuation.

Manchester United had been viewed as favourites thanks to Champions League football and the opportunity for Fernandes to play alongside his idol Bruno Fernandes. Despite that, Tottenham remained confident throughout the process, and it now appears they have come out on top.

Roberto De Zerbi sold Mateus Fernandes on Tottenham

David Ornstein was first to report that Tottenham have won the race for Fernandes after submitting the highest offer to West Ham.

The Athletic journalist understands Spurs have agreed a package worth around £85m, matching the valuation the Hammers had placed on the 21-year-old throughout negotiations.

Ornstein adds that Manchester United ultimately decided against matching either the transfer fee or the salary package on offer from Tottenham, with their attention now expected to turn towards alternative midfield targets.

Fabrizio Romano has since backed those reports, giving the transfer his trademark “here we go” confirmation.

That means Fernandes is now set to become Tottenham’s fifth signing of the summer, following the arrivals of Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi, Jan Paul van Hecke and Martin Dubravka, with the transfer window only just past the two-week mark.

It appears Roberto De Zerbi played a huge role in convincing Fernandes to join the Tottenham project. Romano reports that one of the ‘key factors’ involved ‘De Zerbi calling the player several times to get it done’.

This information is backed up by Tom Allnutt at Times Sport, who says that Fernandes has been completely sold on De Zerbi and the ‘specific plan for his development at Spurs’.

This plan is said to involve integrating Fernandes as the central playmaker at the base of the team, although it remains to be seen whether he will be used as a 6, 8, or even a 10.

Mateus Fernandes is now Tottenham’s record signing

Tottenham’s transfer strategy has undergone a remarkable shift this summer after consecutive seasons spent battling against relegation.

The Lilywhites have already invested £52m to bring Jan Paul van Hecke to North London, while Robertson, Senesi and Dubravka all arrived on free transfers.

Fernandes’ reported £85m fee would take Tottenham’s spending to £137m on transfer fees alone this summer and would comfortably make him the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

Dominic Solanke‘s £65m move from Bournemouth last summer had topped that list until now, but Fernandes would surpass that figure by £20m should the deal be completed.

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