Man Utd transfer masterclass: €58m summer signing is perfect for Carrick

6 Jul 2026 10:02 BST | 4 min read

Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

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Manchester United are exploring a potential deal for Chelsea star Andrey Santos amid their pursuit of two new central midfielders this summer.

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The Red Devils have already finalised a full agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, with the Brazilian set to arrive shortly after being knocked out of the World Cup, but another option is wanted following a serious knee injury suffered by Manuel Ugarte.

The likes of Aurelien Tchouameni, Alex Scott and Carlos Baleba are all on the club’s radar, while Santos has now been earmarked as their latest target, as first reported by The Guardian.

Current ETV

Andrey Santos

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

Andrey Santos

M, DM (C)

Chelsea

ETV Range

€49.3M - €60.3M

Man Utd’s interest in the 22-year-old has been confirmed by David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano, with a deal potentially set to be on the cards as Chelsea are open to a sale.

The Blues already have Moises Caicedo, Reece James, Romeo Lavia, Dario Essugo as deep midfielders, and with Real Madrid ruling out a move for Enzo Fernandez, Chelsea are willing to sell Santos amid their pursuit of Granit Xhaka and Valentin Barco.

Why Andrey Santos could be the perfect signing for Man Utd

Santos only started 13 Premier League matches for Chelsea last season, but he deputised well for Caicedo on a number of occasions and at just 22 years old, he has the talent to develop into one of the best midfielders in world football.

The Brazilian is an elite technician in possession and he combines this on-ball quality with superb defensive nous, while he is capable of playing several different midfield roles thanks to his versatility.

At Strasbourg, he played a more advanced role, scoring 10 goals in 32 Ligue 1 matches in 2024-25, but he was regularly deployed as a defensive midfielder at Chelsea last season, with his ability to dictate the tempo a key reason behind this.

© IMAGO - Man Utd want to sign Andrey Santos this summer

Santos established himself as a star during his time at Strasbourg and while his first full season in Chelsea’s first-team didn’t perhaps go as planned, he remains an elite talent.

Furthermore, Chelsea’s reported asking price of €58m is an absolute steal in the current midfield market.

Mateus Fernandes has joined Tottenham Hotspur for €99m, Sandro Tonali is set to follow suit for €108m and Elliot Anderson has completed a €135m move to Manchester City. Meanwhile, Bournemouth have set their asking price for the aforementioned Scott at €93m.

So, signing Santos for €58m would represent a major bargain for Man Utd, and it’s a deal they should certainly pursue as they look to find a midfield partner for Kobbie Mainoo.

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