Man Utd's Midfield Crisis Solution Sits Ready to Escape Chelsea

Manchester United's pursuit of a new central midfielder is said to have shifted focus toward Chelsea's Andrey Santos, with the Brazilian reportedly willing to depart Stamford Bridge.

It's no secret that the Red Devils are looking to strengthen their midfield options. In fact, it's virtually the only topic being discussed in United circles, though the identity of their primary target varies depending on the source.

Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes featured on a lengthy United shortlist, but both have since moved on to Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively. Sandro Tonali also appears destined for north London to link up with Fernandes, while prising Aurélien Tchouaméni away from Real Madrid seems overly ambitious.

The Guardian have added Santos to the conversation alongside Bournemouth's emerging talent Alex Scott, suggesting the 22-year-old could be deemed expendable at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea look to reshape their squad under incoming manager Xabi Alonso.

Is Santos a Smart Option for Man Utd?

Casemiro's free transfer exit and Manuel Ugarte's serious knee injury, suffered while representing Uruguay at the 2026 World Cup, has left United manager Michael Carrick urgently seeking reinforcements to partner Kobbie Mainoo.

Santos has limited experience in English football — a loan stint at Nottingham Forest proved unsuccessful — and he has failed to make the anticipated impression at Chelsea. Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández are firmly ahead of him in the squad hierarchy, and with Fernández's hoped-for move to Real Madrid appearing unlikely to materialise — despite his apparent desire to head to the Bernabéu — his playing time is unlikely to increase significantly under Alonso.

27 Premier League appearances in 2025–26 produced just 1,255 minutes of action — the equivalent of fewer than 14 full matches — meaning United's interest in Santos would represent something of a gamble. Importantly, however, he does carry Champions League experience and is capable of operating both as a defensive midfielder and in a more traditional central or box-to-box role.

Santos's age profile would also fit neatly within United's broader transfer philosophy, which has focused on players with high developmental potential who may not yet be the finished product. Patrick Dorgu and Benjamin Šeško are perhaps the clearest examples of this approach — both are expected to contribute straight away, but their peak performances should come as they grow into established Premier League players.

Andrey Santos' 2025–26 Campaign in Numbers

*Premier League only (stats via FotMob)

Don't Forget About Éderson

Not the former Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson, but the Atalanta central midfielder who has already agreed to join Old Trafford for approximately £35 million ($46.8 million at current rates). The sole reason the deal has yet to be officially confirmed is that the 26-year-old received a late call-up to Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad — an invitation that Santos did not receive from Carlo Ancelotti.

United can expect Éderson to be a tenacious presence in midfield, covering the ground tirelessly while also possessing the ability to play between the lines. Accustomed to operating in a two-man midfield — albeit supported by wing-backs — that background should enable Carrick to continue deploying his preferred 4-2-3-1 system that brings the best out of Bruno Fernandes.

Santos is cast from a similar mould, though whether Chelsea would be willing to do business with a direct competitor remains uncertain. A reported asking price of at least £50 million ($66.9 million) has been mentioned — a figure that would represent a substantial return on what was paid to Santos's original club, Vasco de Gama, back in 2023.