With Tottenham Hotspur showing interest in West Ham United’s Mateus Fernandes, Spurs Web has now crunched up the numbers to see where he ranks in key metrics amongst Tottenham midfielders.
After the disaster of last season, which saw Tottenham Hotspur finish 17th and become embroiled in a relegation scrap, the Lilywhites have looked to improve the quality of their squad.
Thus far, Marcos Senesi, Andy Robertson and Jan Paul van Hecke have come through the door for a combined fee of £52 million, with the first two arriving as free transfers.
Spurs, however, are not expected to stop there and have plans to bolster their midfield next.
In recent weeks, Spurs Web has reported about Tottenham showing interest in Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali, while on June 19, further reports emerged that Mateus Fernandes of West Ham United is also on Spurs’ radar.
It is explained that Tottenham are aiming to sign both players, which would see them make a significant financial outlay.
Tonali is valued at around £100 million, while Fernandes could cost around £80-90 million if he is to depart relegated West Ham United.
The Lewis family promised to back the club heavily after the disappointment of last season, and there is a growing expectation that Tottenham will spend significantly in the transfer market this summer.
Meanwhile, Spurs supporters made their feelings clear to the club’s hierarchy in a strongly worded statement after Tottenham found themselves embroiled in a relegation battle, only securing their Premier League status on the final day of the campaign.
As a result, fans will be expecting to see substantial changes ahead of the new season.
Tottenham weigh up Mateus Fernandes transfer as West Ham midfielder numbers analysed
With Mateus Fernandes now on Tottenham’s radar, Spurs Web have crunched the numbers to see exactly what they would be getting should they complete a deal for the West Ham United midfielder.
First off, it is worth noting that Fernandes is a player with decent Premier League experience, having made 75 appearances so far while playing for both Southampton and West Ham United.
Last season, he managed 36 appearances and barely missed any games due to fitness problems.
| 2025-26 season | Number |
|---|---|
| Squad appearances | 36 |
| Starting eleven | 35 |
| Substitutions on | 1 |
| On the bench | 0 |
| Suspended | 0 |
| Injured | 0 |
| Absence | 0 |
He also proved to be a versatile option for Nuno’s side, playing not only in central midfield but also doing a job as a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, left winger and right winger. His profile is very similar to Lucas Bergvall, who is just as industrious.
| Position | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Central Midfield | 20 | 3 | 3 |
| Attacking Midfield | 8 | 1 | 1 |
| Defensive Midfield | 7 | – | 1 |
| Left Midfield | 3 | – | – |
| Right Midfield | 1 | – | – |
| Left Winger | 1 | – | – |
In terms of output, Fernandes also put up a decent set of numbers, managing three goals and four assists in his 36 appearances for the Hammers. Most of his goals have come when used as a central midfielder, which has been the case for much of his career.
| Position | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Central Midfield | 97 | 11 | 13 |
| Attacking Midfield | 45 | 4 | 8 |
| Defensive Midfield | 13 | – | 1 |
| Right Winger | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Left Midfield | 5 | – | 1 |
| Left Winger | 5 | – | – |
| Right Midfield | 2 | – | – |
| Centre-Forward | 1 | – | – |
Spurs midfield comparison shows what Mateus Fernandes could bring
When comparing him to the current crop of midfielders at Tottenham, Fernandes does stand his own and offers a different level of quality in several key areas.
| Player | Duel % | Possession won | Progressive carries | Forward passes | Forward pass % | Key passes | Progressive passes | Minutes |
| Mateus Fernandes | 82.4 | 83.5 | 58.3 | 60.4 | 74.5 | 55.5 | 64.6 | 3302 |
| Sandro Tonali | 74.5 | 46.8 | 68.1 | 73.1 | 37.3 | 48.4 | 67.6 | 2821 |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | 53.3 | 72.4 | 5.6 | 42.6 | 26.2 | 21.5 | 17.8 | 2077 |
| Pape Matar Sarr | 32.9 | 80.5 | 50.2 | 37.3 | 78.2 | 39.4 | 21.8 | 1613 |
| Archie Gray | 11.3 | 26.4 | 44.9 | 39.8 | 44.0 | 39.4 | 37.0 | 1673 |
| Lucas Bergvall | 6.3 | 19.5 | 72.5 | 6.9 | 16.7 | 29.0 | 5.3 | 1085 |
| Conor Gallagher | 14.8 | 62.1 | 16.9 | 30.3 | 50.5 | 62.0 | 36.1 | 1328 |
| Joao Palhinha | 81.9 | 96.5 | 2.3 | 46.5 | 36.6 | 7.4 | 38.2 | 2486 |
Fernandes’ numbers highlight exactly why Tottenham would be interested. His duel percentage is one of the highest among the midfielders compared, while his ability to carry the ball forward and progress play stands out.
The biggest difference is his ability to combine defensive work with progression. Spurs have players who can win possession and players who can carry the ball, but Fernandes’ profile suggests he can contribute in both areas.
His passing numbers are also impressive, with a forward pass percentage of 74.5%, which places him among the strongest figures in the group.
That gives Tottenham another midfielder capable of moving the ball forward rather than simply keeping possession.
| Category | Mateus Fernandes |
| Assists | 4 |
| Expected assists (xA) | 2.97 |
| Successful passes | 1,366 |
| Successful passes % | 87.5% |
| Accurate long balls | 110 |
| Accurate long balls % | 61.5% |
| Chances created | 37 |
| Big chances created | 3 |
| Goals | 3 |
| Defensive contributions | 368 |
| Tackles | 103 |
| Interceptions | 35 |
| Blocked shots | 12 |
The question is whether that profile is worth the reported price tag. At £80-90 million, Tottenham would be paying a huge fee for a player who is still developing, but his versatility and ability to influence different phases of the game explain why he has attracted attention.
| Player | Duel % Rank | Possession Won Rank | Progressive Carries Rank | Forward Passes Rank | Forward Pass % Rank | Key Passes Rank | Progressive Passes Rank | Minutes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mateus Fernandes | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 3,302 |
| João Palhinha | 2nd | 1st | 7th | 2nd | 5th | 7th | 2nd | 2,486 |
| Lucas Bergvall | 7th | 7th | 1st | 7th | 7th | 5th | 7th | 1,085 |
| Archie Gray | 6th | 6th | 4th | 4th | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 1,673 |
| Conor Gallagher | 5th | 5th | 5th | 5th | 3rd | 1st | 4th | 1,328 |
| Pape Matar Sarr | 4th | 3rd | 3rd | 6th | 1st | 4th | 5th | 1,613 |
| Rodrigo Bentancur | 3rd | 4th | 6th | 3rd | 6th | 6th | 6th | 2,077 |
Fernandes would not solve every midfield issue on his own, but his numbers suggest he would add another layer to Spurs’ midfield by bringing energy, ball progression and creativity.