Man Utd have had discussions with the agent of Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, according to The Athletic ‘s David Ornstein.
The trusted journalist claims that the Red Devils have not entered club-to-club talks, but they have made initial enquiries with the player’s representatives.
Santos is available, with Chelsea needing to raise funds for new signings, so there is a real chance that this deal could happen.
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Ornstein’s information follows on from a story by The Guardian, who say the Brazilian international could be on the market for £50m.
Santos is being pursued by other teams
Ornstein says there are “multiple suitors” for the 22-year-old, and it is believed that United’s main rivals will be Newcastle.
The Magpies have recently sold Sandro Tonali to Tottenham for £100m, and they see Santos as a potential replacement.
You would expect the midfielder to favour a switch to Old Trafford if it becomes a straight fight between the two clubs, with Michael Carrick’s side playing in the Champions League next season.
Man Utd want value for money
Having lost out to Manchester City for Elliot Anderson and to Tottenham for Mateus Fernandes due to cost factors, it appears that a move for Santos is more financially viable.
In recent days, it has been reported that Director of Football Jason Wilcox has been eyeing moves for Real Madrid’s Aurelien Tchouameni and Bournemouth’s Alex Scott.
However, Tchouameni’s wage demands were believed to be a big obstacle, while Scott would likely cost in excess of £80m as Bournemouth are reluctant sellers.
In that context, an approach for Santos does make sense. He is earning roughly £35,000 a week at Stamford Bridge, so his salary won’t be an issue, and his asking price is considerably lower than other targets.
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