Andrey Santos is 22 years old, Brazilian, and stuck. Not in a bad way exactly. He’s under contract at Chelsea until 2030. But he’s also buried behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in a midfield that somehow keeps getting more crowded even when the club tries to sell people.
So Santos wants out. A permanent move, not another loan. He’s had enough of packing bags and looking for short-term homes. And Chelsea? They’re asking for £50 million.
Two clubs are in the mix right now.
Manchester United’s Midfield Is a Mess
United need help in the middle of the park. Badly. Casemiro left last summer. That alone was a problem. But Manuel Ugarte tore a knee ligament while playing for Uruguay in the World Cup. That turned a problem into a crisis.
Ugarte is out long-term. The only trusted starter United has at the base of midfield right now is Kobbie Mainoo. He’s 21. He’s good. But he can’t do it alone.
Santos fits what United need. He’s not just a destroyer — he gets forward, he carries the ball, he scores. He’d be the box-to-box partner Mainoo needs. The asking price is high but United have paid worse fees for less certainty.
Newcastle Has Money and a Hole to Fill
Newcastle is also watching closely. Sandro Tonali is on his way to Tottenham in a deal worth around £100 million. That leaves a gap in Eddie Howe’s midfield and a pile of cash to fill it.
The Magpies had a rough 2025-26 season. They missed Europe entirely. If they want back in the conversation next year, they need someone who can play right away. Santos has Premier League experience from his time on loan at Nottingham Forest and elsewhere. He knows the league. He’s not a project.
Howe likes midfielders who can do a bit of everything. Santos fits that mold. And Newcastle can afford the £50 million without blinking. Especially with Tonali money coming in.
Chelsea isn’t desperate to sell. But they are trying to clean up the roster and balance the books. Santos is one of the few assets they can move for real money without weakening the first team. If either United or Newcastle comes close to that valuation, a deal could happen fast.
The next few weeks will tell which club moves first. Or if someone else sneaks in.
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