Manchester United and Chelsea have reached an agreement for the transfer of Brazilian starlet Andrey Santos.
Per David Ornstein’s Wednesday report, the Reds will pay a fee worth £48 million plus an additional £2m in performance-related add-ons.
Chelsea will also receive a 10 per cent sell-on clause for any future deal, with officials eager to ensure a smooth negotiation for a long-term target.
Santos has already agreed on personal terms and has been permitted to travel north to complete a medical and solidify his move.
The 22-year-old is set to become the second midfield arrival at Old Trafford this summer, pending a final medical to seal a £35m deal for his compatriot Ederson.
Although some may view this as a quickfire response to recent adversity with Mateus Fernandes, Santos is a player long admired in Manchester.
As previously revealed, officials met with Bertolucci Sports (Santos’ agency), enhancing past attempts to lure the Brazilian during Alejandro Garnacho’s move to Chelsea.
The former Vasco star impressed during his time at Strasbourg and Stamford Bridge, leading to significant expectations that he would build on his 43 appearances last season.
Impressively, the Rio native ranked in the 88th percentile for progressive distribution and the 78th percentile for possessions won throughout his maiden Premier League calendar.
But he desires a more demanding first-team role in a competitive environment, away from the likes of Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez.
Michael Carrick will inherit a dynamic option, able to play as a 6 or an 8, comfortable in defence and capable of driving play as a transitional anchor.
Having missed out on long-term targets Elliot Anderson and Fernandes, Ineos have come under intense social pressure to deliver a meaningful window for Carrick.
Casemiro’s departure, however evident, has left a notable void at the heart of an already fragile midfield, prompting widespread suggestions of a smooth, calculated summer approach.
Instead, supporters have been left massively aggrieved by the spending power of their domestic rivals and what many attribute to a lack of actual ambition inside Jim Ratcliffe’s ranks.
Ongoing speculation about a mammoth move for Aurelien Tchouameni appears to be largely surfacing in Spain, with concerns about the financial framework underpinning Omar Berrada and Co.
It remains our understanding that while United would relish a player of the Frenchman’s calibre, Madrid would rather keep him. Still, a significant fee and salary commitment could tilt matters in the Reds’ favour.
Let us know your thoughts about an impending deal for Andrey Santos, what he can bring to the club, and your expectations in the comments or across our social channels.
Photo by operations@newsimages.co.uk via depositphotos.com.
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