Manchester United is on the verge of signing Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos for a reported £50 million, according to reports. The 22-year-old Brazilian has completed a medical, and the club is said to be confident the move is nearing completion. This potential transfer marks the first signing of the summer for United under head coach Michael Carrick.
The agreed-upon fee with Chelsea is £48 million, with an additional £2 million in add-ons. Santos is expected to join his new teammates for pre-season training at Carrington.
Ederson Transfer Decision Looms
Simultaneously, Manchester United is facing a decision regarding another Brazilian player, Ederson. The club had previously agreed on a fee of £35 million plus £3.8 million in add-ons with Atalanta for the midfielder in June. However, an initial medical check is reported to have raised concerns, which emerged while Ederson was on international duty with Brazil during the World Cup.
United must now decide whether to proceed with the Ederson transfer or abandon the deal and seek an alternative in the market. The club maintains that Santos is not a direct replacement for Ederson, and both transfers could still be completed if Ederson passes his medical.
Midfield Rebuild Underway
These potential signings come as Manchester United undergoes a significant midfield rebuild. Casemiro departed the club as a free agent, and the prospect of signing Manuel Ugarte diminished after the Uruguayan suffered a serious knee injury at the World Cup, likely sidelining him for much of the upcoming season.
Several other midfield targets have been secured by rival clubs, with Nottingham Forest's Elliot Anderson and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes reportedly heading to Manchester City and Tottenham, respectively. Aurelien Tchouameni has also committed to a new long-term contract with Real Madrid.
Even with the potential arrivals of Santos and Ederson, United is reportedly still interested in acquiring a third midfielder, with Bournemouth's Alex Scott remaining a player of interest. The club is also seeking to strengthen its squad with a left-back and a left-sided attacker. Additionally, Manchester United is reportedly close to signing Karl Darlow as a backup goalkeeper, with the 35-year-old undergoing a medical after leaving Leeds as a free agent.