Real Madrid News
Real Madrid slapped with €90 million price tag for Mourinho’s top target; Arsenal, Man United also keen
Jose Mourinho has arrived at Real Madrid with genuine decision-making power, and Florentino Perez has made clear he is willing to back his new manager in the transfer market.
Mourinho is particularly keen on shoring up his options in midfield. And while the club have been linked with a move for Enzo Fernandez, Mourinho has a preference of his own in Mateus Fernandes.
According to The Times (h/t Diario SPORT), Mourinho has identified Mateus as his preferred midfield addition, with the Portuguese international represented by Jorge Mendes, who, of course, shares that connection with the incoming Real Madrid manager.
West Ham want over €90 million
Signing Fernandes won’t come cheap, though, with the report suggesting that West Ham will slap a price tag of over €90 million for the midfielder.
This is hardly surprising as his performances this season for West Ham, despite the club’s relegation, have been impressive enough to significantly drive up his market value.
The 21-year-old joined West Ham from Southampton in the summer of 2025 for €45 million and has already attracted attention from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
A complicated pursuit
Arsenal and Manchester United have both made direct enquiries about Fernandes. But both of them have been met with the €90 million plus price tag.
The English club are motivated seller due to financial fair play pressures following their relegation, but they are not desperate enough to accept anything below their valuation.
Southampton also retain 15% of any future sale, giving them a significant financial stake in the outcome.
For Real Madrid, the prospect of a bidding war with two Premier League heavyweights is not ideal, particularly with Perez also planning to spend at least €150 million on a marquee Galactico signing.
According to TeamTalk, Real Madrid have joined the growing list of clubs monitoring Gabriel Rajkovic, a 15-year-old winger whose rapid development at Valerenga has already attracted attention from several of Europe’s leading sides.
The Merengues are known for keeping an eye on exciting young talent across the globe and it seems that Rajkovic’s exploits in Norway, with the first team, have alerted them.
Real Madrid keeping tabs on Rajkovic
As per the report, Real Madrid are among a host of clubs closely following the progress of the young forward.
Rajkovic holds both Norwegian and Serbian nationality and has emerged as one of the most promising young players in Norway.
His development has not gone unnoticed, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund also understood to be monitoring him.
However, at this point, it is Arsenal and Chelsea, who are understood to be leading the charge for Rajkovic, having compiled a detailed dossier on the teenage prodigy after extensive scouting.
On top of that, the likes of Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur have all watched Rajkovic in recent weeks.
Real Madrid could therefore face significant competition if they decide to step up their interest in a player who has already made an impression at senior level.
Making an impact at just 15
Rajkovic was handed a promotion to the Valerenga first-team squad in January earlier this year, when he was only 14 years old.
Following that, he signed a new contract with the club in March, when he turned 15, committing to the club until 2028.
Despite being only 15, the winger has already begun gaining experience in first-team football. In all, he has made 14 senior appearances for the Norwegian outfit, scoring three and assisting one goal.
Rajkovic has also represented Norway Under-16s, making two appearances and scoring once despite being younger than many of his teammates.
Those numbers become more impressive when his age and stage of development are taken into account.
Real Madrid have built a reputation for identifying young talent well before players reach their peak, and Rajkovic has now emerged as another name on their scouting radar.
But given the number of clubs in the race, signing the teenage wonderkid will not be easy.
