Andrey Santos position, style of play: Why Man United reportedly want to sign Chelsea midfielder

Manchester United have made rebuilding their midfield a priority this summer, and one name has climbed quickly up their shortlist: Chelsea's Andrey Santos.

The Brazil international has struggled for regular minutes at Stamford Bridge despite impressing when called upon, and United reportedly see him as a player who could add energy and goals to their engine room.

Having missed out on the signing of West Ham's Mateus Fernandes, who instead joined Tottenham Hotspur, United may be ready to move swiftly to for their latest target, who is reportedly of interest to Newcastle United as well.

Here, The Sporting News looks at where Santos plays, how he plays, and why United are so keen.

MORE: Man United's key Premier League fixture dates for 2026/27

Andrey Santos position

Andrey Santos is a central midfielder, and specifically a box-to-box type who covers every blade of grass.

Rather than sitting purely as a defensive anchor or playing as an out-and-out number 10, the 22-year-old operates in the middle of the park, contributing at both ends of the pitch.

He made 27 Premier League appearances last season, but with Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez ahead of him, a guaranteed starting role at Chelsea has been hard to come by.

MORE: Why Real Madrid sprung a surprise to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea

Andrey Santos style of play

Santos is known for his energy, his ball-carrying and an eye for goal that is rare in a midfielder his age.

His numbers stand out both for scoring goals and for winning duels, and observers have noted that he plays with the maturity of a much older, more experienced professional.

That combination of drive, physicality and end product is exactly what United feel is missing from their side: a player who can break forward, win the ball back and still chip in with goals.

Will Man United sign Andrey Santos?

United are reportedly pushing to sign Santos this summer as Michael Carrick looks to reshape his midfield, having already missed out on targets Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes.

Widespread reports in the UK on July 5, after an initial story by the Guardian, indicated United are considering a bid for the player, who is valued at around £50 million ($67 million). No talks with Chelsea had taken place as of July 5, but Santos, the reports said, is a viable option for the Red Devils.

The player himself would reportedly be open to leaving Chelsea in search of more regular minutes, which strengthens United's hand. They are not alone in the chase, however, with Newcastle United also monitoring his situation, so a deal is far from guaranteed.

What did Chelsea pay for Andrey Santos?

Chelsea signed Santos from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama in January 2023, when he was just 18, for a fee reported at around £13m ($16m).

Chelsea now value him at approximately £50m ($67m), meaning any sale would represent a significant profit on their original outlay, a reflection both of his development and of the club's ability to turn young signings into valuable assets.