Manchester United have turned their attention to Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos as a fresh £50million transfer target, while Lille have warned that teenage star Ayyoub Bouaddi would command a fee exceeding £100m.
Andrey Santos: New Midfield Target
According to The Guardian, United are now targeting Santos after missing out on Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, who moved to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively. The 22-year-old Brazilian is reportedly open to leaving Chelsea in search of regular first-team football.
Chelsea value Santos at around £50m, despite him being behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the pecking order under new manager Xabi Alonso. Santos joined Chelsea in 2023 and made 27 Premier League appearances last season, starting 13 games. Chelsea need to raise funds to support Alonso's transfer plans.
Lille President Issues Bouaddi Warning
Lille president Olivier Letang has made clear that Ayyoub Bouaddi will not come cheap. The 18-year-old midfielder impressed for Morocco at the World Cup, attracting interest from United, Arsenal, and Liverpool.
“Many clubs are interested in him, but very few can afford him right now,” Letang told Eurosport. “He's already one of the best midfielders in the world and still has significant room for improvement.”
When asked about a price, Letang pointed to Elliot Anderson's £116m transfer to Manchester City and Sandro Tonali's proposed £100m move to Tottenham. “How much have players like Anderson or Tonali been sold for, who are much older, but without room for improvement, so you have an idea of the value of Ayyoub, who has a unique profile at only 18 years old,” he said.
United's Midfield Overhaul
Manager Michael Carrick is keen to strengthen his midfield after Casemiro left the club. United are looking to bring in at least two central midfielders this summer as they prepare for a Champions League return. The club previously agreed a deal for Atalanta's Ederson before his late call-up to the Brazil squad.
United have also been linked with other midfielders, but the pursuit of Santos and the interest in Bouaddi highlight their focus on young talent with high potential.
