Manchester United are considering a move for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, but the club could face a familiar transfer problem after being priced out of deals for other targets this summer. The 22-year-old Brazilian is available for transfer from Stamford Bridge, and several Premier League clubs have already sounded out his representatives.
Midfield Reinforcements Needed
United are looking to strengthen their midfield after Manuel Ugarte suffered a suspected ACL injury during the World Cup. The club have already agreed an initial £35million deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta, but have missed out on top targets Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, who joined Manchester City for £116million and Tottenham for £85million respectively.
Other targets include Bournemouth's Alex Scott and Real Madrid's Aurelien Tchouameni, should he become available. However, Santos is another player under consideration, with United likely to sign at least two more midfielders this summer.
Santos Profile and Availability
Chelsea signed Santos from Vasco da Gama for £18million in 2023. He has since had loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg. Last season, he made 27 Premier League appearances for Chelsea, scoring one goal, but only 13 of those were starts. He is currently behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
United are looking for versatile midfielders who can play both the No. 6 and No. 8 roles, valuing physicality and mobility. Santos, with Premier League experience, ticks several boxes for the club.
Potential Bidding War
Any deal for Santos will depend on the fee Chelsea demand. United have been reluctant to enter bidding wars this summer, having been priced out of moves for Anderson and Fernandes. With other Premier League clubs also interested in Santos, a familiar problem could emerge for United as they look to strengthen their squad.
