Man Utd Target Chelsea's Andrey Santos in Midfield Reinforcement Bid

Manchester United are exploring a potential transfer for Chelsea's Andrey Santos, valued at approximately £50 million, following unsuccessful attempts to sign Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes as midfield reinforcements.

The club faces a shortage of midfield options after Casemiro's departure and Manuel Ugarte sustaining a potentially serious injury during the World Cup, leaving Kobbie Mainoo as the only fit midfielder currently available.

United are close to completing a £35 million deal for Atalanta's Ederson, a fellow Brazilian, but aim to add one or two more central midfielders to their squad.

The club had shown interest in Anderson, whose impending £116 million transfer from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City will make him the most expensive British player, and Fernandes, who recently joined Tottenham for £85 million from West Ham.

Other midfield candidates considered by United include Brighton's Carlos Baleba, Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, and Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni.

Since joining Chelsea in 2023, Santos has made 47 appearances and experienced four loan spells. Last season, he started 13 league matches but remained behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the selection order.

Both Caicedo and Fernandez are expected to remain at Chelsea, with Real Madrid publicly denying interest in signing Fernandez this summer.