After finishing third in the Premier League last season and returning to Champions League football – the vibes were high at Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window.
INEOS entered the market with one clear goal – to strengthen the club’s door, resulting in many of England’s top players popping up on their radar.
The likes of Elliot Anderson, Sandro Tonali and Mateus Fernandes are all considered important, but the Red Devils have been forced to watch other sides confirm deals for the talents.
However, the manager has only signed midfielder Michael Carrick – but he could face a difficult season at Old Trafford in 2026/27.
Why Santos could struggle for United in 2026/27
As part of their recruitment drive this summer, United have completed the £50m signing of central midfielder Andrey Santos from fellow Premier League club Chelsea.
The move surprised many at this stage, and it’s safe to say that many Red Devils fans were disappointed with the 22-year-old’s deal.
He managed just 13 starts in England’s top flight for the Blues last season, and his stats for the 2025/26 campaign reveal why he may struggle at Old Trafford.
The Brazilian managed to create 0.3 chances per 90 last term, while completing 0.2 successful dribbles per 90 – both placing him in the bottom 20% of players in the division.
|
Andrey Santos – PL Stats (2025/26) |
|
|---|---|
|
Mathematics (90 percentile) |
Mathematics |
|
Games played |
27 |
|
The games have started |
13 |
|
Pass accuracy |
90% |
|
Opportunities are created |
0.5 |
|
Successful dribbles |
0.2 |
|
The discovery of the ball |
3.4 |
|
Aerials won |
45% |
|
A gun was taken |
0.7 |
Such numbers highlight his lack of quality with the ball at his feet, while his defensive numbers also highlight his struggles not to play in the Premier League.
Santos also managed to register a paltry 3.4 balls per 90, which, like his numbers, put him below 90% of other midfielders in this category.
While he is a player who undoubtedly has the potential to be a strong long-term addition, the former Chelsea star does not appear to be a ready-made choice for Carrick’s squad this season.
How United can secure the rapid development of Santos
Despite deals for Santos and Youri Tielemans this summer, United have made the addition of a third midfielder a priority in recent weeks.
Attempts have been made to try and prize Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga from Real Madrid, but both of the aforementioned talents will remain at the Bernabeu.
Because of this, the Red Devils also paid attention to Roma star Manu Kone who seems to have seen success in negotiations in recent days.
Corriere dello Sport reported that Carrick’s men have agreed a personal deal with the player and his representatives over a deal this summer.
However, it also confirms that an agreement between the two clubs is yet to be reached, with the Serie A outfit wanting at least £42m to land the Frenchman.
The 25-year-old has received a lot of attention in recent weeks after his nation’s impressive performance at the recent World Cup – even keeping Tchouameni out of the starting eleven.
His call-up came as a result of his impressive form at club level in 2025/26, with Kone able to surpass the new Santos in a number of key areas.
The Roma star was able to complete 90% of his passes, while finishing 62% of his attempted dribbles – putting him in the top 15% of all midfielders in Europe’s top five leagues.
Such numbers are more than those produced by Santos in the Premier League – highlighting Kone’s incredible ability to decide the game in deep areas.
The Frenchman was able to create many chances in deep areas, while making many passes into attacking areas – something Carrick wants from his midfielders.
However, off the ball, Kone was just as dominant, scoring more and returning balls in the 90s – backing up one commentator’s comment that he was a “monster” in midfield.
£42m for a player of the 25-year-old’s caliber would be very good business and could be a bargain if he reaches the next stage in his development.
He will no doubt be ahead of Santos in Carrick’s plan to press ahead with any move and could end the management’s hunt for further reinforcements in such a department.
As for the Brazilian, he may have little chance of impressing in 2026/27 if Kone arrives in Manchester, but he will be hoping to show fans that he can be a success.
