United strike gold in pursuit of PL rival’s “world-class” maestro as he greenlights Old Trafford switch – report

After a rampant start to the summer transfer window, Manchester United’s midfield rebuild has begun to show signs of uncertainty. A £39 million agreement for Ederson was struck at the beginning of the month, while talks were held for Mateus Fernandes as an alternative to Elliot Anderson. However, Tottenham Hotspur’s hijack of the move for Fernandes, in combination with Manchester City agreeing a club-record deal for Anderson, has left United scrambling for alternatives to fix an engine room on the verge of stalling. Working Down The List With Casemiro having sealed a free transfer to Inter Miami, and the plan to sell Manuel Ugarte torpedoed by his serious knee injury, Kobbie Mainoo remains the only midfielder with a long-term future at Old Trafford. United are understood to have pivoted towards Bournemouth maestro Alex Scott as their new priority target. The Cherries are adamant the 22-year-old Guernsey native is not for sale, however, with manager Marco Rose considering him a vital part of his new side. Aurelien Tchouameni, 26, remains the ‘dream’ target to succeed Casemiro, as he did when joining Real Madrid in 2022. There are said to be talks planned this week, but a deal feels a remote possibility as Jose Mourinho is happy for the France international to stay at the Santiago Bernabeu. Carlos Baleba is another option, though Brighton & Hove Albion’s exorbitant demands will prove as prohibitive as they did last summer. Similarly, United admire Crystal Palace playmaker Adam Wharton, but the England international is considered too similar stylistically to Mainoo. This has led to alternatives, such as Borussia Dortmund star Felix Nmecha or Scott’s teammate at the Vitality Stadium, Tyler Adams, being explored. But Andrey Santos – Chelsea’s box-to-box dynamo – is a name now quickly rising the ranks in M16, as explained by The Peoples Person here. Open to Old Trafford Santos, 22, is an all-action midfielder, capable of playing in the No.6 or No.8 roles. This flexibility will be attractive to the hierarchy at Old Trafford as they search for versatile solutions for Michael Carrick. The Brazil international is well-rounded, smart in possession and strong in duels. He possesses a relentless engine and has adapted to the rigour of English football well, having previously shone on loan for Ligue 1 side Strasbourg in France. But he faces the unenviable task of trying to displace either Moises Caicedo or Enzo Fernandez in west London, two of the Premier League’s best midfielders and undisputed starters for the Blues. As a result, Santos is understood to be exploring an exit from Stamford Bridge this summer, with United having held exploratory talks with his camp. There have been no club-to-club negotiations, though Chelsea are also open to a sale, provided their £50 million valuation is met. TEAMtalk reveals the Rio da Janeiro native has a “strong desire for regular first-team football” and is prepared to prioritise minutes on the pitch above all else. “Santos is understood to be prioritising a move where he can establish himself as a regular starter, an ambition that appears increasingly difficult at Chelsea amid their deep squad and revolving managerial situation. “Having impressed during a loan stint at Strasbourg, the midfielder is now seeking a fresh challenge at a club where he can play a central role in midfield and be a very important player.” Sources close to Santos indicate he considers United a “very attractive destination”, viewing a switch to Old Trafford as an “opportunity to develop under a structured environment and compete for trophies in the Premier League and Europe.” Final Thoughts Described as “world-class” by his former manager, Liam Rosenior, who has compared him to Brazilian legend, Dunga, Santos’ potential to develop into an excellent midfielder is obvious. A price tag of £50 million is relatively cheap in comparison to the other targets on United’s radar in the Premier League, further explaining the decision to pivot towards him. However, there is an obvious overlap in signing another versatile Brazilian enforcer after already agreeing a £39m deal for Ederson. If Santos and Ederson are balanced by a blockbuster capture of Tchouameni, this will feel like a more reasonable triumvirate, even if it lacks playmaking ability. But if Santos arrives alongside his compatriot, while a pursuit of Scott proves successful, United will be left with four relatively inexperienced or unproven midfielders while spending the best part of £200m to secure them. In short, Santos would be an excellent third-choice recruit in midfield, if the club had not made that exact signing already. Feature image Eddie Keogh via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Fox Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.