It's transfer deadline day chaos in the Premier League, and Manchester United are ready to unleash a £50 million bid on Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos! The 22-year-old Brazilian sensation has been earmarked by United boss Michael Carrick as the perfect solution to their midfield woes. With top-flight football returning to Old Trafford next season, the Red Devils are hell-bent on bolstering their squad and Santos is their top target.
Having missed out on Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes, United have now set their sights on Santos, with Bournemouth's Alex Scott also in their crosshairs. It's a case of 'now or never' for the Old Trafford outfit as they seek to plug the gaping hole left by Casemiro's departure and Manuel Ugarte's season-ending knee ligament injury. An agreement is already in place to sign Éderson from Atalanta, but that deal has hit a snag due to his World Cup commitments.
For Chelsea, selling Santos could be a savvy move under new head coach Xabi Alonso, who needs to generate funds to strengthen his squad. The 22-year-old is finding it tough to break into the first team with Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández ahead of him in the pecking order. It's no secret that Santos is eager for more game time, and a move away from Stamford Bridge could be just what he needs.
Newcastle United are also sniffing around, sensing an opportunity to poach Santos from Chelsea while they're distracted by other transfer dealings. The Magpies need a replacement for Sandro Tonali, who's set to join Tottenham, and the Brazilian is on their radar as a top candidate. We all know how much energy Santos brings to the pitch – could he be the difference-maker Newcastle needs?
Meanwhile, in related news, Chelsea are understood to be eyeing up Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, who previously worked with Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen. However, reports suggest that Sunderland have thus far rejected Chelsea's approaches for the player.