Liverpool transfer news: Andoni Iraola warned off £80m Man United hijack

Liverpool person been warned disconnected hijacking Manchester United's determination for West Ham United midfielder Mateus Fernandes by a erstwhile Reds lynchpin.

Following the Irons' relegation from the apical flight, Fernandes has inevitably been tipped to depart the London Stadium successful hunt of top-flight shot for the 2026-27 campaign.

The 21-year-old was a shining airy successful a troubled 2025-26 play for West Ham, providing 3 goals and 4 assists successful 36 Premier League matches pursuing his £38m transportation from Southampton.

Fernandes is present being heavy linked with an £80m move to Manchester United, who person reportedly made the one-cap Portugal planetary their 'absolute priority' signing for the summertime window.

Liverpool are besides expected to beryllium successful the marketplace for midfield upgrades successful the coming weeks, arsenic Curtis Jones is retired of declaration successful 2027 amid links with Inter Milan, portion Alexis Mac Allister struggled for signifier past term.

Liverpool warned disconnected £80m Man United hijack

However, erstwhile Liverpool midfielder Don Hutchison - speaking exclusively to Sports Mole - does not judge that Fernandes is the close acceptable for Andoni Iraola's system.

"Mateus Fernandes is Champions League quality, there’s nary doubt, and I expect he’d beryllium acceptable to permission West Ham," Hutchison said. "But he’s not the close illustration of subordinate for Liverpool’s midfield upgrade."

Instead, Iraola could people erstwhile Bournemouth workfellow Alex Scott, who blossomed into 1 of the Premier League's astir sought-after lynchpins nether the Spaniard astatine the Vitality Stadium.

Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton is different viable people for Liverpool, but Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson mightiness beryllium retired of reach, aft Manchester City precocious had a £120m bid rejected.

Liverpool fixed Jarrod Bowen transportation verdict amid Mohamed Salah replacement search

Fernandes is 1 of a fewer players who could question a determination distant from West Ham, alongside the long-serving Jarrod Bowen, who registered 18 Premier League extremity involvements past term.

The 29-year-old would beryllium a like-for-like replacement for Mohamed Salah positionally, but Hutchison expects him to stay astatine West Ham and identified 2 superior alternatives.

"I’ve thought for a agelong clip that Jarrod Bowen would beryllium a bully signing for Liverpool," Hutchison added. "He knows the Premier League, knows his ain crippled but I tin really spot him staying astatine West Ham and getting them consecutive backmost up.

"I would enactment Yan Diomande up of Bowen successful presumption of Liverpool’s privation list. I’d besides beryllium looking astatine Kenan Yildiz astatine Juventus. He would outgo a important magnitude of wealth though."

Diomande is believed to beryllium Liverpool's apical people to regenerate Salah, but Iraola has been told to interruption the slope for a £120m signing instead.

Don Hutchison was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of Spreadex Sports.