Tottenham Hotspur are still hard at work negotiating for two big star midfielders in Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, the two chosen next pillars of the midfield for Roberto De Zerbi. Although Tonali has been tabbed as the main priority, the Italian international and the Portuguese international are both on pretty much even footing, as De Zerbi very much wants to bag both.
Tonali seems to be more in the clear for Spurs, because Manchester United are still battling hard with the Lilywhites for Fernandes's signature after his breakout season in 2025/26 for West Ham United. Although the Hammers got relegated, Fernandes was so good at the age of 21 that even Jose Mourinho and Real Madrid have been interested in the player.
But Fernandes will cost around 85 million pounds, and West Ham are going to sell to the highest bidder who can give them a payment structure that is suitable, too, which is important since that is exactly how Spurs lost out on Eberechi Eze to Arsenal last summer.
Tottenham are exploring Mateus Fernandes swaps
In order to sweeten the pot over Man United, Tottenham Hotspur are trying other ideas to entice West Ham, and Hammers insider Ex WHU Employee is reporting, via West Ham Central, that the Lilywhites are offering their London rivals players in a swap deal. And one of the ideas is sending Mikey Moore on loan to them, which is the likely scenario Spurs want in a swap.
Moore had a grand 2025/26 season in the big games for Rangers, picking up the pace after a tough start to the season and benefiting greatly from Danny Rohl's appointment. He came up with so many big goals in the Old Firm Derby against Celtic, and while Rangers want him back on loan, they do have a new coach and many Spurs fans also want to see him back at the club to compete for a spot on the wings with a gaping need still there, especially on the left.
But Moore may not be ready yet. He is 18 years of age and highly talented but still incredibly raw, and shining for Rangers is another story to shining with Tottenham. Plus, even at Rangers, Moore did not dominate every game nor put up the kinds of numbers that would make a Spurs supporter confident he can start or be a big player for Tottenham in 2026/27.
The thing is, West Ham are in the EFL Championship, and that may not be the level Moore needs to go to to push himself. A lower club in the table in another top five league, like the loan Luka Vuskovic got to Hamburg, may make more sense. If West Ham want Moore and that puts Tottenham over the edge to sign Mateus Fernandes over Manchester United, Roberto De Zerbi may want that deal no matter what, but it would not be the best to sacrifice a year of Moore's development.
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