Manchester United’s midfield crisis deepened this week as the club considered Chelsea’s Andrey Santos and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott after missing out on two major targets worth a combined £201m.
The urgency is acute. Casemiro left after his contract expired on 30 June, and Manuel Ugarte, who was expected to be sold, sustained what he called “the most serious injury a footballer can face” – cruciate damage suffered on World Cup duty with Uruguay – ruling him out for the rest of 2026 and scuppering any sale. United are yet to confirm the full extent of the injury, leaving Kobbie Mainoo as their only recognised central midfielder.
“Man Utd consider Santos and Scott after £201m midfield setbacks”
In the transfer market, United have hit repeated dead ends. On 25 June, Manchester City agreed a club-record £116m deal with Nottingham Forest for England international Elliot Anderson, United’s number one target. Then, on 2 July, Tottenham paid a club-record £85m for West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes, a player United had pushed hard to sign. The club felt that if they offered £85m, Spurs would immediately go to £90m – a situation they were keen to avoid.
With those options gone, United’s attention has turned elsewhere. Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, signed from Vasco da Gama for £18m in 2023, is the latest name on their list. Meanwhile, Bournemouth’s Alex Scott has emerged as a potential target, valued at around £80m, though Arsenal and Liverpool are also linked. Reports suggest Scott could sign a new contract with Bournemouth that would include a release clause.
United have already agreed a £35m deal with Atalanta for Brazil midfielder Ederson, but his late call-up to the Brazil squad means his medical will not happen until after the World Cup, and he will then take a minimum of three weeks off. As a result, when manager Michael Carrick’s senior players report for testing and pre-season training on 9 July, the only midfielder available will be Mason Mount, who is viewed as an offensive player. United’s first friendly, against Wrexham in Helsinki, takes place on 18 July, the day before the World Cup final.
With eight first-team midfielders listed on United’s website – including Toby Collyer, wanted by Hull, and Dan Gore, who spent last season on loan at relegated Rotherham – Carrick’s options are alarmingly thin. The club’s pursuit of reinforcements is far from over, but time is running short before the new season begins.