Chelsea open to Santos sale at £50m as Man United and Newcastle circle

Chelsea are prepared to sell Andrey Santos this summer, with the club open to offers for the Brazilian midfielder provided they meet a reported £50m asking price. Manchester United and Newcastle are among the Premier League sides believed to be tracking the 22-year-old’s situation at Stamford Bridge.

Santos made 43 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea during the 2025/26 season, but only 25 of those came as starts. With Chelsea absent from European competition next season and actively pursuing a central midfielder in the transfer market, his path to regular first-team football looks increasingly narrow — a factor likely to accelerate any potential departure.

Chelsea signed Santos from Vasco da Gama for £18m in January 2023, and he has since spent loan spells at Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg. Despite four years remaining on his contract, the club are not blocking a move and will consider bids that match their valuation.

For United, the interest in Santos forms part of a broader midfield rebuild. The club have already agreed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta, while moves for Mateus Fernandes and Elliot Anderson — who joined Tottenham and Manchester City respectively — were deemed too costly.

Chelsea’s openness to selling Santos mirrors their stance on Enzo Fernandez, who would also be allowed to leave if a club meets the £120m asking price. That scenario appears unlikely after Real Madrid issued an official statement confirming they have no intention of pursuing the Argentine this summer. Those close to the club are said to be unconcerned, with Fernandez expected to remain part of Xabi Alonso’s squad.

Alonso is set to receive reinforcement in central midfield through Valentin Barco, who is expected to complete a move from Strasbourg within the coming weeks, though Chelsea have yet to officially confirm the deal.

Elsewhere, Chelsea appear to have missed out on Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, with Alonso having been keen to reunite with the 33-year-old Swiss midfielder.