Man United agree £50m deal for Chelsea’s Brazilian midfielder

Manchester United have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos in a deal worth up to £50 million.

According to David Ornstein, the agreement comprises a fixed fee of £48 million and a further £2 million in add-ons for the 22-year-old.

Personal terms have already been agreed, with Santos now expected to undergo a medical before signing a long-term contract at Old Trafford.

Chelsea have also secured a 10 per cent sell-on clause as part of the transfer agreement.

The move comes after Manchester United missed out on midfield targets Elliot Anderson and Matheus Fernandes, who joined Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur respectively earlier in the transfer window.

Santos has been a long-term target for United’s recruitment team, with the club previously discussing the midfielder during talks with Chelsea over Alejandro Garnacho.

Chelsea are understood to have rated the Brazil international highly but were prepared to sanction his departure after handing Moises Caicedo a new contract, with Santos seeking regular first-team football.

The midfielder is set to become United’s second midfield signing of the summer after the club also agreed a £38 million deal with Atalanta for fellow Brazilian Ederson.

Ederson is expected to complete his medical following Brazil’s exit from the FIFA World Cup.

Manchester United are expected to continue strengthening their midfield despite the arrivals of Santos and Ederson, with the club looking to add further experience following Casemiro’s departure and Manuel Ugarte’s serious knee injury.