What Chelsea make of United’s move for their Samba star fresh from a Carabao Cup masterclass – report

Bolstering Manchester United’s midfield is expected to be top of INEOS’ agenda in 2026. Ideally, United should have pulled off a marquee midfield signing last summer, but they did not. A move for top target Carlos Baleba failed to materialise after Brighton & Hove Albion made it clear the midfielder was not going anywhere. Having missed out on their priority target, United opted against panic buying, shelving plans to bring in a midfielder. While United’s midfield has looked decent at times, it has occasionally been exposed, highlighting the need for a more dynamic presence in the middle of the park. Several top midfielders have since been linked with a 2026 Old Trafford switch. Andrey Santos One of those midfielders is Chelsea’s Andrey Santos. Santos was also linked with a move to United last summer following his impressive loan spell at Strasbourg. There was talk of him being requested as part of the Alejandro Garnacho deal to Chelsea. However, nothing came of those rumours, with the Samba star remaining at Chelsea. At Stamford Bridge, the midfielder has struggled for minutes, with Moisés Caicedo enjoying his best run yet in a blue shirt and his partnership with Enzo Fernández continuing to flourish. As a result, Santos has been forced into a backup role behind the duo, who are fast becoming undroppable in Enzo Maresca’s engine room. Game time issues His limited game time, just two starts in eight Premier League matches, has inevitably sparked interest from elsewhere. And now, Pete O’Rourke has dropped an intriguing update on Football Insider regarding the South American’s future. He reports: “The midfielder’s ‘problem’ at Chelsea is the presence of Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández, and United would be prepared to offer him increased playing time.” While such an offer would surely turn the player’s head, especially as he dreams of making the Brazil World Cup squad, a move to United will not be straightforward. Chelsea’s stance on a Santos exit “Chelsea have no plans to lose the midfielder to a Premier League rival, and he remains very highly regarded among those in positions of power at Stamford Bridge,” O’Rourke adds, underlining just how complicated this potential deal could become. Despite his limited game time, mainly restricted to cameo appearances, it is understandable that the Blues are keen to retain him. When given the chance, Santos has impressed. Carabao brilliance On Wednesday, he delivered a standout performance, scoring and assisting as 10-man Chelsea battled past Wolves to book their place in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals. Andrey Santos vs Wolves (Carabao round of 16) ActionStatistics Player Rating8.6 Minutes Played90 Goals1 Assists1 Total Shots2 Expected Goals (xG)0.21 xG on Target (xGOT)0.36 Shots on Target1 Shots off Target1 Shots Inside the Box1 Shots Outside the Box1 Touches in Opposition Box1 Successful Dribbles1/2 (50%) Touches85 Fouls Suffered4 Accurate Passes49/64 (77%) Big Chances Created1 Expected Assists (xA)0.02 Accurate Passes in Final Third6/11 (55%) Accurate Long Passes0/2 (0%) Duels14 Aerial Duels Won3/6 (50%) Ground Duels Won7/8 (88%) Tackles Won1/2 (50%) There is no doubt United, under INEOS, have an eye for emerging talent, and Santos certainly fits the mould of a player who could have been a shrewd addition. His tenacious tackling, sharp vision, progressive passing, and knack for making late runs into the box could have transformed United’s midfield. However, with Chelsea’s firm stance, this transfer may never materialise, prompting United to potentially pivot towards their other midfield targets, such as Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson. Stats courtesy of Flashscore 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 Daniel Onguko Dan is a writer with The Peoples Person, an avid Manchester United fan whose passion for the Red Devils evolved into writing about them. He was introduced to United back in 2008, and his love for the club has continued to grow ever since. Like every other United fan, he believes the club will soon return to its rightful place and strives to reflect that belief in his writing. While he has also written about other Premier League sides, including Arsenal for Just Arsenal and The Arsenal Analysis Blogspot, Dan lives and breathes Manchester United.