Why Manchester United have signed Andrey Santos and why he could be Carrick's midfield solution

Photo: Chelsea FC

Manchester United's pursuit of Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos has surprised plenty of fans, with the Chelsea man being set to swap Stamford Bridge for Old Trafford this summer.

Multiple reports on Wednesday evening confirmed that United reached an agreement with Chelsea for the transfer of the 22-year-old, who will be joining the club for £48 million plus £2 million in achievable add-ons, with a 10% sell-on clause also being included. Personal terms have already been agreed, with the Brazilian now set to undergo his medical.

On the surface, paying around £50 million for a Chelsea midfielder who has only enjoyed one full season of regular Premier League football appears risky. However, when you dig deeper into the profile United are buying, the move begins to make much more sense.

Santos will not just serve as a replacement for Casemiro, nor is he solely just a reactionary signing to cover for Manuel Ugarte's long-term injury.

He is a signing that will offer Michael Carrick plenty of options and versatility for plenty of years to come.

The squad needed another complete midfielder

The circumstances have almost forced United into the market, with Carrick's side being keen on multiple options throughout the summer.

Casemiro's departure leaves an enormous hole in terms of experience and defensive presence, while Ugarte's injury means Kobbie Mainoo is the only recognised senior central midfielder currently at the club. Ederson is expected to arrive from Atalanta as another addition, but United still require more players.

Carrick's midfield relies on balance, not just specialists.

During his own playing career under Sir Alex Ferguson, United's strongest sides featured midfielders who could defend, progress possession, and arrive in dangerous attacking positions.

Santos ticks every one of those boxes.

More than just a defensive midfielder

One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding Santos is that he is a traditional holding midfielder. He isn't.

During his breakthrough season on loan at Strasbourg, Santos regularly broke into the penalty area, contributed goals from midfield and showed an outstanding and innate ability to time late runs forward. That attacking instinct remained evident whenever he played for Chelsea last season, despite operating deeper in possession.

Photo: Chelsea FC

Yet what makes him attractive is that those attacking qualities don't come at the expense of his defensive work.

Santos is an aggressive midfielder who covers plenty of ground, presses with intensity, wins duels and recovers possession quickly. Instead of being a destroyer like Casemiro, Santos is closer to the modern all-action midfielder every elite side is now targeting.

During last season, Santos won 67.8% of his ground duels in the Premier League, the best rate of any midfielder in the competition.

The perfect partner for Kobbie Mainoo?

Perhaps one of the key reasons behind the move is how naturally Santos complements Mainoo.

Mainoo thrives when he receives possession under pressure and drives through midfield, linking up play in tight spaces. His intelligence allows him to dictate the tempo, but he has often lacked an energetic partner capable of covering large spaces beside him, with the English midfielder not being the most mobile midfielder.

Santos could provide exactly that.

His signing would free up Mainoo to advance, with the Brazilian protecting United's backline from transitions.

Carrick can distribute responsibilities across two young players whose strengths complement one another. That partnership has the potential to grow together for years.

Carrick wants midfielders who can play football

Carrick's philosophy centres around control.

His own career was built on positioning, passing angles and intelligent movement rather than physical dominance. Since taking charge at Old Trafford, there have already been clear signs that he wants his side to dominate possession with technically secure players capable of receiving under pressure.

Santos fits that identity perfectly.

Unlike traditional defensive midfielders who simply recycle possession sideways, the Brazilian consistently looks to play through opposition lines. He is comfortable carrying the ball, breaking pressure himself and accelerating attacks.

That versatility allows Carrick to build a midfield of changing shape during games. Santos can sit, while also possessing the ability to press and arrive in the penalty area.

A signing for today and tomorrow

United's midfield has been crying out for a succession plan. For years, the club has relied on experienced players approaching the latter stages of their careers, creating a cycle where major rebuilds become unavoidable every few seasons.

At 22 years old, Santos could change that timeline. He arrives with significant senior experience for his age, while still possessing enormous room for development.

Alongside Mainoo and the expected arrival of Ederson, United suddenly have the foundations of a midfield that could remain together for at least the next four or five years.

That long-term planning is every bit as important as solving the immediate problems caused by Casemiro's exit and Ugarte's injury.

The bigger picture

This is not to say that Santos will be the answer to all of United's issues.

Carrick still needs a marquee midfield signing who will partner Mainoo on a more regular basis. United cannot go into the new season with just Mainoo, Ederson and Santos.

A proven, solid defensive midfielder is required to start alongside Mainoo, with Santos and Ederson being rotated.

United have been dealt some significant blows in recent weeks, with Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes all securing moves. The recent news that target Aurelien Tchouameni could be set to sign a new deal at Real Madrid will also be tough to stomach.

The key thing is that Santos should not be the marquee midfield signing of the new season. A top midfielder who will elevate United right now is still needed.

It remains to be seen who United will go for, but in any case, Santos still represents a steady signing for United, even at a relatively hefty fee.