There has been transfer speculation since before Jose Mourinho's arrival at Real Madrid. Reports from Spain and Portugal now suggest the manager is considering a trio of Portuguese players. This group includes goals West Ham And Manchester City.
according to to ballMourinho has identified Mateus Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias as players of interest. He is now starting to plan his new project in Madrid.
Of the three, the strongest link currently surrounds Mateus Fernandes.
West Ham star on Mourinho's radar
A Bola, citing Spanish newspaper AS, report that a major midfield overhaul has been requested by Mourinho. Mateus Fernandes fits the profile that Real Madrid are looking for. We covered earlier claims around him.
The emergence of the midfielder was one of the stories of last season. Despite West Ham falling short in the Championship, the Portuguese international's performances continued to attract attention. Furthermore, it helped him establish himself as a player to watch at Premier League level.
According to the Portuguese newspaper, reports from England have valued the player at around €90m (£76.5m).
An Bola also notes that transfer fees are often increased when deals are made between English clubs, potentially creating a different scenario if interest comes from elsewhere in Europe.
Manchester City pair enter talks
The other two Portuguese names mentioned by A Bola have connections to Manchester City.
Bernardo Silva is considered an attractive option as he is available as a free agent after leaving the Etihad. Furthermore, the report states Barcelona is in a good position in this goal. However, the midfielder recently suggested that he has not yet made a final decision on his next club.
ruben dias It is said that this has also been discussed internally. Bola references UK reporting which claims Real Madrid have investigated the possibility of a move. However, the newspaper presents that scenario as significantly less advanced than the interest in Mateus Fernandes.
In fact, reports suggest that Mourinho's preference for the back line is currently a left-footed defender. This defender must be able to operate as both a centre-back and a left-back. That profile has reportedly led Real Madrid to josko guardiol. Additionally, Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori is another target.
Mourinho arrived in Madrid on Tuesday and immediately began meetings with senior people involved in the club's planning.
According to A. Bola, agent Jorge Mendes was among those present. It comes as the Portuguese manager's preparations for his return to the Bernabeu gather pace.
For now, Mateus Fernandes appears to be the most solid of the three Portuguese names mentioned, with West Ham facing new attention around a player who continues to attract elite level interest despite the disappointment of demotion. But Manchester City will have to stay on their toes.
