Manchester United Pursue Andrey Santos as Midfield Rebuild Stalls

Manchester United’s summer has been stuck in neutral. No new faces through the door, one major departure in Casemiro, and a fanbase already impatient as the weeks slip by.

Behind the scenes, though, the club has started to move. Quietly.

An agreement is in place with Atalanta for midfielder Ederson, yet even that deal has hit a delay, held up by a late medical request from United. While that drags on, attention has turned to another young midfielder already proven in the Premier League: Andrey Santos.

United call Santos’ camp

According to Fabrizio Romano, United have stepped up their interest in the Chelsea midfielder by making direct contact with his representatives in recent days.

“Man Utd already a few months ago were considering Andrey Santos,” Romano said on his YouTube show, explaining that the Brazilian has been on their shortlist for some time. That interest has now been revived, with United calling the player’s agents to gauge his situation and the conditions for a potential move.

So far, there is an important detail: no official bid to Chelsea. The conversations remain on the player’s side, sounding out his contract position and appetite for a new challenge rather than testing Chelsea’s resolve formally.

Chelsea’s stance, though, is clear enough. Romano reports that the club do not view Santos as “untouchable.” If a serious offer lands — real money, not a bargain bid and not a loan — they are prepared to consider an exit.

Put bluntly: if United put down a strong proposal, they can get him.

A costly opportunity

Chelsea signed Santos for around £10 million as a teenager. That figure already looks like ancient history. Any buyer now will be quoted a fee north of £50 million, with Chelsea eyeing a substantial profit on a 22-year-old who has only just started to scratch the surface of his potential.

Santos has made 28 Premier League appearances, forced to wait his turn behind big-money signings Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. When chances have come, he has shown enough to keep Europe’s elite watching.

A detailed scouting report from ScoutingStats after his loan spell at Strasbourg in 2024 underlined why.

“One of Santos’s standout attributes is his remarkable goal-scoring ability for a midfielder. His 100th percentile rating in goal threat highlights his knack for getting into scoring positions and converting chances effectively,” the report noted, painting the picture of a midfielder who doesn’t just arrive late in the box but arrives with purpose.

Defensively, the numbers tell a similar story. “Santos’s high percentile ratings in both ball recovery and retention indicate his knack for reclaiming possession and maintaining it under pressure. His 94th percentile in ball recovery reflects his ability to disrupt opposition play, ensuring that his defensive contributions are as consistent as his offensive ones.”

The conclusion was simple: a balanced, box-to-box midfielder capable of influencing both ends of the pitch. Exactly the profile United have lacked since Casemiro’s decline and departure.

A midfield in transition

United’s need in that area is no secret. Casemiro has gone, Ederson’s arrival is delayed, and Michael Carrick — overseeing a squad that still feels half-finished — knows his midfield requires energy, legs and goals if United are to claw their way back towards the top.

The World Cup has complicated the market, stretching timelines and slowing negotiations, but that excuse will wear thin quickly at Old Trafford. Supporters want to see intent, not just rumours.

Santos offers upside, resale value and a modern skillset. He also carries a heavy price tag and comes from a direct domestic rival who will not sell cheaply. That is the calculation now facing United’s hierarchy.

They have picked up the phone. They know Chelsea are listening.

The next move will reveal how serious they really are about reshaping this midfield — and how much they are prepared to gamble on a 22-year-old who looks ready for a bigger stage.