United have already reached an agreement to sign Ederson from Atalanta, with medicals expected to proceed after Brazil’s participation in the 2026 World Cup concluded. However, Ederson isn’t the only Brazilian midfielder attracting interest for Old Trafford this summer.
Andrey Santos, 22, joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama in 2023 and made 43 appearances for the Blues last season, scoring three goals. He spent time on loan at Vasco after joining Chelsea and later had spells on loan at Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg before returning to Stamford Bridge at the start of the previous season. Chelsea are reportedly asking around £50 million for Santos’ signature, a figure tied to his 27 Premier League appearances in the past campaign.
The pursuit comes as United seek not only to replace Casemiro but also to address an unexpected setback in another area: Manuel Ugarte suffered a long-term knee injury during the World Cup and is ruled out for the remainder of the year, increasing the urgency to strengthen midfield options.
In addition to Santos, there have been links to another Brazilian talent, Danilo Santos, who previously attracted interest from United while at Botafogo. Danilo’s World Cup and club form have influenced transfer chatter, with reports suggesting a potential return to Europe or a move to Palmeiras if a European switch does not materialize.
If United were to bring in Santos alongside Ederson and potentially Danilo Santos, it would mark a concerted move to assemble a Brazilian-influenced core in midfield, aiming to bolster depth and quality as the club transitions to its next competitive phase.
