Manchester United have added Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos to their list of targets as the club scrambles to address a midfield crisis that threatens to leave manager Michael Carrick with just one senior option for pre-season.
United went into the summer with England’s Kobbie Mainoo as their only recognised central midfielder after Casemiro’s contract expired on 30 June and Manuel Ugarte was expected to be sold. Those plans were wrecked when Ugarte sustained what he described as “the most serious injury a footballer can face” while on World Cup duty for Uruguay against Spain. The 25-year-old suffered cruciate ligament damage that will sideline him for the rest of 2026, ruling out any sale.
“Manchester United target Chelsea's Andrey Santos after losing Manuel Ugarte to a season-ending injury and missing other midfield targets.”
In the transfer market, United have encountered repeated setbacks. On 25 June, Manchester City agreed a club record £116m deal with Nottingham Forest for England international Elliot Anderson, who had been United’s number one target. Then, on 2 July, Tottenham paid a club record £85m to West Ham for Mateus Fernandes. United had pushed hard for the Portuguese midfielder and genuinely thought he was attainable, but once Spurs made their interest known, West Ham – under new direction through co-chair Daniel Kretinsky – stuck to a valuation in excess of £80m. United would have been willing to pay £85m including add-ons, but felt that if they offered that sum, Spurs would have immediately gone to £90m – a situation they are keen to avoid.
United have agreed a £35m deal with Atalanta for Brazil midfielder Ederson, but his late call-up to the World Cup means his medical will not happen until Carlo Ancelotti’s side are out of the competition. Even then, Ederson – like all United’s World Cup players – will get a minimum of three weeks off. Unless the position changes, the only midfielder among Carrick’s senior group when they return for testing and pre-season training on 9 July will be Mason Mount, who is viewed as more of an offensive player.
Of the eight first-team midfielders listed on United’s website, aside from Mount, Carrick’s options include Toby Collyer – who is wanted by Hull – and Dan Gore, who spent last season on loan at Rotherham after they were relegated from the Championship. United play their first friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July, the day before the World Cup final.