Manchester United weigh Santos move but face Chelsea bidding war risk

Manchester United are interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos this summer, with the 22-year-old available for transfer from Stamford Bridge and his representatives already fielding enquiries from several Premier League clubs.

United have yet to make a formal approach to Chelsea, but Santos fits the profile they are targeting — a versatile midfielder capable of playing both the No. 6 and No. 8 roles, with the physicality, mobility and Premier League experience the club values. The need is urgent: Manuel Ugarte suffered a suspected ACL injury during the World Cup, leaving United likely to sign at least two midfielders before the window closes.

Santos arrived at Chelsea from Vasco da Gama for £18 million in January 2023 and has since spent time on loan at Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg. Last season he made 27 Premier League appearances — 13 of them starts — scoring once, but remains behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the Stamford Bridge pecking order.

The familiar concern at Old Trafford is cost. United have already missed out on two midfield targets this window: Elliot Anderson joined Manchester City for £116 million after United were priced out, while Mateus Fernandes signed for Tottenham for £85 million. The club has shown a reluctance to enter escalating bidding wars, and with multiple Premier League sides circling Santos, Chelsea’s asking price will be the deciding factor.

United have, however, made progress elsewhere in midfield. They agreed an initial £35 million deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta and retain an interest in Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni, should the French international become available. They are also considering Bournemouth’s Alex Scott, 22, as another option.

How aggressively United pursue Santos will likely hinge on whether Chelsea set a fee that avoids the kind of auction that has already derailed two of their primary targets this summer.