Manchester United had plans to rebuild their midfield with top signings this summer and despite falling short in the search for a number of targets, progress is now being made on arrivals.
The plan has always been to bring in two, perhaps even three midfielders, market-permitting, to plug the hole left by Casemiro in an already thin area of the squad, currently ill-equipped to cope with a return to the Champions League.
United have this week agreed a £50m deal for Chelsea’s Andrey Santos, while Atalanta’s Ederson is set to have a medical before his £38m transfer is concluded. Both would bring much-needed depth while not necessarily being seen as the first-class midfielders fans expected.
Elliot Anderson, who has joined Manchester City for £116m, and Mateus Fernandes, signed by Tottenham for £85m, were the top targets, which has raised questions about how United plan to react in a summer when the market for midfielders is so competitive.
Elliot Anderson made his World Cup debut against Croatia
It does not help the perception of United’s window – and their progress – that Spurs have also signed Sandro Tonali for £100m, taking another proven Premier League midfielder off the market. United had been monitoring the Italian but never pursued their interest.
United’s hopes of signing a top target has been complicated further by Aurelien Tchouameni agreeing a new deal with Real Madrid. The France midfielder featured high on United’s list along with Alex Scott, whom Bournemouth are adamant is not for sale.
By moving quickly to sign Santos, United have shown flexibility and recruited a player that is highly rated by director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, who was instrumental in bringing the Brazilian to Chelsea.
Andrey Santos celebrates after doubling Chelsea’s lead against Spurs
However, the 22-year-old’s signing does not come without risk given his relative inexperience compared to the other midfielders mentioned above, while Ederson is yet to test himself in the Premier League, albeit he has impressed in the Champions League and Serie A.
At the time of writing, before those signings are completed, Kobbie Mainoo is the only available and recognised senior central midfielder at United now Manuel Ugarte is out injured long-term, although Mason Mount did take up the role on a few occasions last season.
It poses the question of how United plan to complete their midfield rebuild with the adequate experience and quality required to remain challenging toward the top of the Premier League while coping with the Champions League schedule.
Is Santos a good alternative to Tchouameni?
Now it is clear that Tchouameni is staying at Real Madrid, United have landed on Santos to fill the defensive midfield role at Old Trafford.
Santos is primarily a more defensive, combative midfielder but he can also play from deep or in a more advanced role.
United have been looking for midfielders who can break through the lines of the opposition and the club believe Santos has shown his ability to do that.
A comparison of the two players shows similar output in passing and duels won across the pitch, key characteristics for players in the middle of the park.
Tchoaumeni is the more well-rounded and polished player but at 26, compared to Santos at 22, he is further along in his career. The French midfielder has amassed 317 first-team appearances in just under a decade at club level.
Whereas Santos, who began his career in Serie B with Vasco da Gama, has 111 appearances and started just 13 games in the Premier League last season.
Andrey Santos’ stats for Chelsea last season in the Premier League vs other midfielders
Despite not currently being at the same level as Tchouameni, excitement is brewing regarding Santos and the heights he could reach if given regular opportunities.
Although he did not make the final Brazil squad for the World Cup, the Brazilian Federation (CBF) believe he is one of their most exciting prospects.
He also offers Carrick greater versatility in the role, given he can play multiple positions in midfield.
Andrey Santos’ minutes played by position and heat map last season
Who else could Man Utd target?
Bournemouth’s Scott is another option United remain keen on. However, there is a view that the deal would be very difficult to do.
Bournemouth’s stance is that the 22-year-old is not for sale, with the Cherries keen for him to sign a new deal at the Vitality Stadium.
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Alex Scott’s best passes, tricks, tackles and goals for Bournemouth in the Premier League 2025/26 season
Bournemouth prepare for a first-ever season in Europe and will be keen not to uproot much of the squad that achieved history for the club last season. In the last 18 months, Bournemouth have already seen the likes of Antoine Semenyo, Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Dango Ouattara, and Illia Zabarnyi for a combined £253m.
Scott has two years remaining on his current deal, but while Bournemouth’s stance remains firm, in the current market, United could test their resolve with a substantial offer.
Other players that remain on United’s shortlist are Morocco starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi, Borussia Dortmund’s Felix Nmecha and Fulham’s Sander Berge.
Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi is on Man Utd’s shortlist
Man Utd’s post-CL qualification transfer inertia
The feelings of United’s inactivity in this window will come as very little surprise for fans. Following a season on the hunt for Champions League football, achieving said feat usually results in an underwhelming window.
Having said that, United are not alone in being yet to formally announce a signing, with Premier League Champions Arsenal still yet to welcome a new face. However, United’s business, at present, threatens to repeat a similar pattern across the last decade.
Like United’s summer window of last year, in search of Champions League football at the start of the 2016/17 season, big business took place. United broke the world transfer record to sign Paul Pogba for a fee that became £93.25m, brought in Zlatan Ibrahimovic on a free and picked up Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Eric Bailly for a combined £56m.
Paul Pogba signed for Man Utd in 2016
United achieved Champions League football through their Europa League triumph that season and, in fairness, followed that up with more smart business, signing Romelu Lukaku, Victor Lindelof and Nemanja Matic for a combined £169m.
In 2018, Champions League football resulted in a window where United signed Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant to contend with the toils of Europe. Having then missed out on Champions League football in that season, United then broke the bank again.
An £80m Harry Maguire joined as Europe’s most expensive defensive signing at the time and was joined by a £50m Aaron Wan-Bissaka and an £18m Dan James. While United faltered at the beginning of that season, parachuting in Bruno Fernandes in January ensured a third-place finish and a return to Europe’s elite competition.
Though the COVID-19 pandemic will have likely played a role in strict spending in the following summer, United brought in Edinson Cavani on a free transfer, Facundo Pellistri, Alex Telles, Donny van de Beek and Odion Ighalo on loan for a total of £53m.
United finished second despite the underwhelming window and had a blockbuster summer soon after, spending £134m on Jadon Sancho, Tom Heaton, Raphael Varane and Cristiano Ronaldo. That season ended with the club finishing in sixth and missing out on Champions League qualification.
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Man Utd in 2021
The club returned with a third-place finish in the following season, after the arrivals of Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Antony and Tyrell Malacia for a combined figure of just over £200m.
Andre Onana, Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount were signed for around £167m to prepare for the return but it was not enough to make their mark in Europe, as they crashed out in the group stages in 2023/24 and finished eighth in the league.
The club then spiralled. They failed to qualify for the Champions League again, with a 15th-place league finish in 2024/25, until securing third spot last season. They spent just under £500m to get back there throughout that period.
However, the marquee signings of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo last summer showed that heavy investment is needed to keep pace with the best. Will the same follow this summer, or will United fall back into familiar habits?
