Paul Merson has questioned Manchester United’s decision to sign Andrey Santos from Chelsea, asking what the club saw in him.
Man Utd’s Midfield Rebuild Under Michael Carrick
United reshaped their midfield after Casemiro left and Manuel Ugarte suffered a serious knee injury. Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Aurelien Tchouameni were all linked, but Carrick’s side signed Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba.
The season has started badly. United are 17th with seven points from nine games and have won just once. Only goal difference keeps them above the relegation zone.
What Merson Said About Santos and Tielemans
Speaking on Sky Sports, as reported by Metro, Merson said he would “love to see what they saw” in a £50m fee, having watched Santos weekly at Chelsea. He added that Tielemans is a good player who lacks pace and needs mobile teammates, as he had at Aston Villa.
Santos’s Strengths and Weaknesses
Santos is a right-footed deep-lying playmaker who is also comfortable in a box-to-box role. He can thread passes between the lines and contributes defensively. However, his athleticism is a concern, and he has struggled to settle under Carrick after limited minutes at Chelsea. Baleba has also been inconsistent after impressing at Brighton.
Our Take
At 22, Santos still has time to grow, but a £50m fee brings heavy expectations. Merson’s point about the lack of pace around Tielemans looks fair, and the balance of this midfield needs addressing. It also seems a little early to judge Santos on a struggling side.