Manchester United Edge Closer to £50m Santos Swoop as Chelsea Negotiations Intensify

Manchester United are inching towards a deal with Chelsea to bring midfielder Andrey Santos to Old Trafford, with active negotiations now taking place between the two Premier League rivals.

The Red Devils already have Ederson Silva lined up from Atalanta—the Brazilian only needs to complete the second phase of his medical before officially joining Michael Carrick's squad—but INEOS are determined to strengthen the engine room further. With Casemiro having departed and Manuel Ugarte sidelined by injury, reinforcements in midfield have become a priority.

Santos has emerged as their latest target, and the 22-year-old Brazil international is now the focus of serious talks. Chelsea, who acquired him from Vasco da Gama in 2023, are holding firm at a £50million asking price, though recent reports suggest the Stamford Bridge outfit view him as moveable should an acceptable offer materialise.

The pursuit isn't entirely new ground for United. Fabrizio Romano and David Ornstein flagged their interest weeks ago, and the Italian transfer specialist revealed that contact with Santos's representatives has been ongoing since earlier in the year. Back in February and March, United held discussions with the player's agents—conversations that occurred around the same time Bruno Guimarães was being linked with the club, the pair sharing representation.

According to Romano's latest assessment, Chelsea don't consider Santos untouchable. The midfielder would be available for the right price, though any deal would need to represent serious money rather than a cut-price or loan arrangement. What had previously been agent-level contact has now escalated to direct club-to-club discussions, with the Daily Mail reporting that negotiations are progressing between the two sides.

United's midfield shopping list has already seen them miss out on Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, and Mateus Fernandes. With Champions League football secured under Carrick's management, landing Santos would provide a timely boost to their summer business.