Manchester United have renewed their pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos following the collapse of their deal for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, according to The Guardian. Fernandes completed a move to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported €99 million after United were unwilling to meet West Ham’s asking price.
United had identified Fernandes as a key target, but are now turning their attention back to Santos, who was also linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer. The 22-year-old is reportedly open to leaving Chelsea in search of more consistent first-team opportunities.
Chelsea are understood to be willing to consider offers for Santos, who is valued at around €58 million (£50m). Newcastle United are also monitoring the Brazilian’s situation. Santos made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season, scoring three goals, and his current contract at Stamford Bridge runs until 2030.
During his time at Strasbourg, Santos was described as “the best player in the world” by teammate Diego Moreira. He successfully deputised for Moises Caicedo on several occasions last campaign, demonstrating his readiness for a more prominent role. However, data analytics from SciSports suggest Santos is currently rated lower than United’s Manuel Ugarte, who struggled for regular starts last season.
Despite this, Santos possesses significant potential and could develop into a leading midfielder. While not necessarily a direct replacement for the ageing Casemiro, a deal at a reasonable fee could prove a valuable long-term investment for Manchester United.
