Here’s a transfer storyline that’s been quietly building for over a year. Manchester United have been tracking Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos since at least last summer, and according to Fabrizio Romano, the relationship is warm enough that a deal feels more likely than ever.
The 22-year-old Brazilian was on United’s radar back when they were negotiating Alejandro Garnacho’s move to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea shut down any talk of including Santos in that deal, and the two clubs eventually settled on a straight £40 million fee for Garnacho. Smart move by United though: they slipped a 10% sell-on clause into that agreement. Now Chelsea might sell the Argentine winger for up to £90 million this summer with Saudi clubs circling. That clause could be pure gold.
But United never stopped watching Santos. Romano says club executives held two meetings with his agent Giuliano Bertolucci back in February and March. And after missing out on Mateus Fernandes to Tottenham, United picked things back up with Bertolucci last week. Santos wants out of Chelsea. He’s stuck behind Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez in the pecking order and needs regular minutes. United could offer him exactly that.
Vivell Connection Adds Another Layer
Here’s where the inside track gets real. United’s recruitment director Christopher Vivell was Chelsea’s technical director from December 2022 to July 2023. One of the first signings Chelsea made under him was Santos from Vasco da Gama for £13 million. Romano says Vivell knows the midfielder very well, which helps explain why Santos is a legit target at Old Trafford. In modern soccer, relationships matter as much as scouting reports.
Chelsea still rate Santos highly but won’t block his exit if a fair offer comes in. The Blues reportedly value him around £50 million. That’s significantly cheaper than other United targets like Alex Scott or Aurelien Tchouameni. For a versatile midfielder with Premier League experience and his best years ahead of him, that price looks reasonable.
There’s one wrinkle though. United are also closing in on Atalanta’s Ederson, who can now finalize his move after Brazil’s World Cup exit. Those two players are similar profiles, though Santos is younger (22 vs 27) and has more Premier League time. Signing both might feel like overkill, but Manuel Ugarte’s season-ending injury with Uruguay could force United to stockpile bodies in midfield.
Santos would be a smart pickup for a team that needs depth and youth in the middle of the park. He’s physical, technical, and hungry to prove himself. United have been working this one quietly for months. Might finally be time to see it through.
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