West Ham fans will surely fear Declan Rice repeat after rare Graham Potter masterstroke
To many of the Premier League’s elite, West Ham are seen as a stepping stone club, and Nuno Espirito Santo could face the heartache of this narrative.
In the summer, West Ham sold Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham for around £55million, becoming their second-most expensive departure after Declan Rice joined Arsenal for £105m in 2023.
Meanwhile, in previous decades, the Hammers experienced the pain of watching clubs swoop for their most talented players, most notably Frank Lampard joining Chelsea in 2001 and Rio Ferdinand signing for Leeds United in 2000.
Currently, there is a feeling that Jarrod Bowen is too good for West Ham and could leave to join a bigger club, while one of his teammates is showcasing his top-level talent.
West Ham could pocket a huge fee for Mateus Fernandes
During an underwhelming summer transfer window under Graham Potter, the Englishman did at least pull off one masterstroke, and that was the capture of midfielder Mateus Fernandes.
West Ham signed Fernandes from Southampton for £40m in August 2025, with the 21-year-old becoming their third-most expensive arrival.
Whilst some youngsters can crumble under the expectation of their price tag, the Portuguese maestro is thriving under Nuno Espirito Santo and is arguably one of the first names on his team sheet.
Operating as either a central midfielder or wide playmaker from the left, Fernandes was West Ham’s best player against Liverpool despite the 2-0 defeat, as he showcased his incredible ball-playing skills and confidence in possession.
| Mateus Fernandes’ stats vs Liverpool |
| 90 minutes played |
| 36/40 accurate passes (90%) |
| 3 key passes |
| 3 attempted dribbles |
| 5/11 ground duels won |
| 3 recoveries |
The former Southampton star is growing in stature with each passing week, and if the Hammers are to survive relegation, Fernandes is key to their chances.
But worryingly, even if they do confirm their Premier League status, surely some of the division’s biggest clubs will take a look at the talented midfielder, with supporters arguably fearing another big-money exit — similar to Rice’s departure to Arsenal.
Where Fernandes must improve to become elite
Fernandes is flourishing under Nuno’s management, with his versatility becoming a standout attribute at the London Stadium.
The Portugal under-21 international has also demonstrated his defensive qualities, ranking in the top two per cent of midfielders across Europe for tackles, as per FBref, and the top three per cent for interceptions in the past year.
However, for Fernandes to truly become a top midfielder and reach the levels being set by Rice, for example, he must add more goal involvements to his game.
As it stands, Fernandes has scored once and assisted once in 11 Premier League matches this term, and that output must improve for supporters to really fear him leaving.
Either way, West Ham have an unbelievable talent on their hands who is arguably destined to play for a Champions League club eventually.