Credit: Manh Tung, Breaking Media

Declan Carr

Tue 31 March 2026 12:10, UK

Mateus Fernandes looks set to make his Portugal debut, which will only see his value increase ahead of a potential West Ham United exit.

Roberto Martinez has hinted that the Hammers star could play a part in the friendly clash with the United States on 1 April.

Speaking ahead of the contest, the former Everton boss said: “Between the game against Mexico and the one against the USA, we want to try to ensure that all players get playing time.”

West Ham will surely see his transfer price skyrocket if he receives the chance to play for the senior national team for the first time.

Why Fernandes’ West Ham transfer value could be set to skyrocket

Fernandes is already attracting interest from West Ham’s Premier League rivals, and the Hammers will surely fear that he could quit the London Stadium in the summer.

The likes of Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have been linked with moves for the 21-year-old Irons star after his impressive campaign.

The Hammers signed him for £42million and his value will only go berserk if he is recognised on the international stage by winning his first cap.

Why Fernandes value could go up even further soon

Fernandes’ potential price tag could increase even further if he can secure survival for the East London club and make the World Cup squad for the summer tournament.

Teams have been known to throw huge amounts at players who perform well at the prestigious international competition, regardless of how good they have performed at the club level.

Therefore, if the E20 ace could make his way into Martinez’s plans on a permanent basis, he could help the Hammers to secure a huge windfall in the near future.

They will not want to lose a player with his talent and potential, but they may not have a choice if clubs are offering ridiculous money for his services, and they need money after making a £104m pre-tax loss for the 2023-24 season.

It may well be the best outcome for the Rush Green side, if they can bring in a huge fee, and use that to rebuild the squad or balance out the books if needed.

His future probably depends on whether the Irons stay in the top-flight or not, as he is contracted until 2030, but they could see him as a sellable asset if they go down to the second-tier.