The midfield at Manchester United has been a problem for years, but this summer the club is tearing it up and starting again. With the departure of Casemiro and a long-term injury to Manuel Ugarte, United have moved quickly to bring in two new faces: Andrey Santos from Chelsea for £50m, and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa for £35m. A deal for Atalanta's Ederson collapsed after a medical flagged a knee issue, but could be revisited later.
The basics are simple: Manchester United are overhauling their midfield. Casemiro left when his contract ended at the end of last season, leaving a gap in experience. Ugarte, signed last summer, suffered a cruciate ligament injury at the World Cup and is out for an extended period. With Kobbie Mainoo still at the World Cup with England, the club faced starting pre-season with Mason Mount as the only recognised senior midfielder. Manager Michael Carrick made central midfield his top priority.
“Manchester United's summer midfield overhaul: signings, targets, and the strategy behind the rebuild.”
The background to this flurry of activity goes back months. United had targeted several midfielders before settling on their current approach. First-choice target Elliot Anderson proved too expensive at over £110m, and West Ham's Mateus Fernandes chose Tottenham instead. United also held an interest in France's Aurelien Tchouameni, but that went no further. The club's director of football, Jason Wilcox, insisted a calm approach would pay off, and it has: Santos was signed quickly after United made their interest known over a weekend, and Tielemans became available via a release clause in his Aston Villa contract. The Belgian, 29, captained his country at the World Cup and brings a wealth of Premier League experience from his time at Leicester and Villa. Santos, 22, is a Brazilian who knows the league from loans at Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, and is seen as a player with room to develop.
Why does this matter for UK readers? Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the country, and their midfield struggles have been a talking point for years. With Casemiro's decline and Ugarte's injury, the team lacked energy and control. The new signings aim to fix that: Santos brings dynamism, Tielemans brings composure and passing range. Their arrival could change how United perform in the Premier League and beyond, especially as they prepare for the new season. For fans, it's a clear signal that the club is addressing a key weakness.
Q: Why are Manchester United signing so many midfielders this summer? Because Casemiro left as a free agent and Manuel Ugarte is out with a long-term knee injury. With Kobbie Mainoo at the World Cup, the club had only Mason Mount as a senior midfielder for pre-season. They needed multiple reinforcements.
Q: How much have Manchester United spent on midfielders this summer? They have agreed a £50m deal for Andrey Santos (initial £48m plus £2m add-ons) and are close to a £35m deal for Youri Tielemans via a release clause. That's £85m so far, with potential add-ons. The Ederson deal (£35m plus £3.8m) collapsed due to a medical.
Q: Are Manchester United done with transfers? Not necessarily. The club could revisit the Ederson transfer later in the window at renegotiated terms. They have also signed Santos and are close to Tielemans, but further signings are anticipated. United's recruitment team has expressed faith in their ability to bring in more players.
What happens next? Santos's arrival is due to be announced early this week, while Tielemans's move is in advanced talks and expected to be completed soon. United's pre-season begins on 18 July against Wrexham in Helsinki, and the transfer window remains open until the end of summer. Whether United return for Ederson or other targets will depend on how the window develops.