Mateus Fernandes is now ‘very close to joining Southampton’, reports O Jogo, after the move was first reported by the Portuguese media on Saturday.
The last Fernandes, Bruno, to move from Sporting CP to the Premier League didn’t do so badly, so hopefully the Saints see something in the same vein going forwards.
Sunday’s edition of O Jogo reports Sporting are set to receive €15m as a flat fee from Southampton, and they can add a further €3m to that in the form of potential bonus payments.
The 20-year-old has only played ten games for the Lisbon based club, and hasn’t really broken through there. He picked up some good experience on loan at Estoril last season and has played for Portugal at every youth level.
There’s some regret because whilst Fernandes may not have broken through it’s felt that’s largely due to the tough competition he’s faced and not a reflection on his standard.
Sporting manager Rúben Amorim is quoted as saying: “What is possible is that Mateus Fernandes could leave, these are the dilemmas of our club. We want to keep all the youngsters, but we have to make choices and that is why he did not join us today. The club will then pass him on.”
That was to explain why the player, who joined Sporting at the age of 12, wasn’t involved against Nacional.
