Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Tue 7 April 2026 18:10, UK

Mateus Fernandes‘ outstanding start to life at West Ham United has rightly led to comparisons to Lucas Paqueta – but this season, he’s been even better.

Fernandes arrived at the London Stadium in a £42million deal back in August 2025 and his valuation is understood to have skyrocketed in light of his red-hot form.

He has scored four goals already for the Hammers and admirably stepped in to replace Paqueta, who belatedly departed for Flamengo in his native Brazil in January.

Paqueta’s switch bagged them a handsome £35.5m fee, and Nuno Espirito Santo will have certainly taken note of his stuttering start at the club where his career began.

West Ham’s decision to offload the playmaker and replace him with Fernandes now looks to be a masterstroke, and they are continuing to reap the rewards.

How do Mateus Fernandes and Lucas Paqueta compare?

Fernandes has attracted attention from Premier League rivals ahead of the summer transfer window, and supporters may be concerned about the prospect of losing him.

Indeed, Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have all been linked with the 21-year-old talisman after his impressive debut campaign, and it is clear to see why.

Joe Cole was correct to describe Fernandes as “phenomenal” after watching him during the FA Cup defeat to Leeds, while he also said that the ace has “lifted” the team.

Paqueta fell short on that front toward the end of his stint, while his successor, now flourishing in the same advanced position he occupied, is delivering consistently.

A look at their statistics shows that Fernandes has the edge this campaign. He has made 29 appearances in the Premier League, scoring three goals and registering three assists.

His pass success of 87.9 per cent has helped the Hammers tick along nicely in the final third, while he has created an average of 1.09 chances per game.

Paqueta, on the other hand, has notched two goals from his eight Serie A matches, with a pass success rate of 79.3 per cent. His chance creation is higher, at 1.54 per game.

Fernandes has a better dribble success, with his 63.9 per cent trumping Paqueta’s 61.5.

West Ham have clear transfer priority

Whether Fernandes remains in E20 beyond the end of the season will likely depend on their top-flight status, but he is contracted until 2030 and will command a big fee regardless.

Cynically, West Ham could use the playmaker as a guaranteed way to generate funds if they are relegated, allowing them to splash out on a squad more suited to the Championship.

But it would be a crying shame to lose him. While his style of play differs from Paqueta’s joga bonito philosophy, it is equally easy on the eye and just as effective.

Recent reports have mooted a £55m asking price, which, if true, would represent a £13m profit for the Hammers. Regardless of his quality, that would be very shrewd business.