Manchester United are only a few hours away from finalising the transfer of Andrey Santos from Chelsea.
The Red Devils have been searching the market for three new midfielders after parting ways with Casemiro and losing Manuel Ugarte to a long-term injury.
After missing out on Elliot Anderson (to Man City) and Mateus Fernandes (to Spurs), INEOS turned to several new targets over the past few days. But while they missed out on Aurelien Tchouameni, who is now set to extend his contract with Real Madrid, they were able to strike a swift agreement with Chelsea for Santos.
Andrey Santos will become a Man Utd player on Friday
On Wednesday evening, it was revealed that Man Utd and Chelsea closed a £50 million deal for Santos, who has been hailed by Andy Mitten for his ‘brilliant football brain’.
The West Londoners agreed to sell the Brazilian for a fixed fee of £48 million, in addition to £2 million in add-ons, plus a 10% sell-on fee in case of a future resale.
On Thursday evening, Fabrizio Romano and others confirmed that the 22-year-old passed his medical test.
And now, Carrington insider Sully has revealed in his latest update on Round Table that Santos will sign a five-year contract with Man Utd in the coming hours, with the official announcement arriving on Friday.
The source adds that the young midfielder has already met with his new head coach, Michael Carrick, who explained the plans he has in store for him.
Santos’ arrival coincides with the return of Man Utd players to Carrington for pre-season. Therefore, he will have the chance to get to know his teammates straight away, except for those who will return late due to their World Cup commitments.
What’s next for Man United?
While Santos’ operation was swift and smooth, it remains to be seen if Ederson’s move will go over the line.
The 27-year-old was expected to be Man Utd’s first summer signing following a £39 million agreement with Atalanta last month. However, the club wasn’t convinced by his initial medical, which he underwent during his time with the Brazilian national team camp.
Ederson is reportedly undergoing a thorough second medical to lift the lid on his condition. If the Atalanta man ends up joining the Red Devils, INEOS would still have to buy a third midfielder.
Several sources, including Sully, believe it should be a ‘big name’, but his identity remains a mystery amid the lack of options.
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