Manchester United close in on £50m Santos signing to fill Casemiro's midfield void

Manchester United are set to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos for around £50m, with personal terms already agreed and the 22-year-old’s arrival expected to address a significant weakness in the club’s midfield following Casemiro’s departure.

United reached an agreement with Chelsea earlier this week to secure the Brazilian’s signature. Santos made 43 appearances for the Blues last season under Enzo Maresca and Liam Rosenior but rarely started, sitting behind Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo in the midfield hierarchy. Despite his limited opportunities, he consistently impressed when called upon — a record that dates back to his status as the first signing of the BlueCo era at Stamford Bridge.

The statistic that will have most caught the eye of new United head coach Michael Carrick is Santos’ ground-duel success rate. The Brazilian won 67.8% of his ground duels in the Premier League last season, a figure that comfortably eclipses those of the players he is expected to replace or complement: Casemiro managed 53.3%, Kobbie Mainoo 52.4%, Bruno Fernandes 47.2%, and Mason Mount 45.7%.

Santos himself has spoken about his development as a complete midfielder. “I’ve also played as a holding midfielder, really focusing on helping with the build-up and breaking up the opposition’s play,” he told FIFA. “I can play as a second pivot and even as the third player in the midfield.”

The Brazilian also drew a direct comparison to the player he could replace at Old Trafford. “Casemiro plays in a similar role to Moises Caicedo, who I’ve played with many times,” he said. “Their styles are quite similar. They’re the kind of players who make the game easier for the players around them.”

Santos acknowledged his own evolution since arriving in Europe, adding: “I’m a more complete player now. I’ve learned how to play better tactically, when to step up and press, how to cover spaces and how to position myself on the pitch. The Andrey of 2023 is different to the Andrey of 2026.”

Former Chelsea assistant Liam Rosenior, who worked with Santos at Strasbourg before their time together at Stamford Bridge, was effusive in his praise. “Andrey, for me, is a magnificent player. He’s a young player who plays way beyond his years,” Rosenior said. “He is what I would call an ‘intangibles player’, where he does things in games that sometimes people don’t see.”