Manchester United have turned to Andrey Santos as their next midfield target but there is some confusion about what specific role he might play.
Missing out on Mateus Fernandes, Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali this summer means that Manchester United are having to work their way down their transfer shortlist.
According to David Ornstein, United are exploring a deal for Andrey Santos but are yet to begin talks with Chelsea for the Brazilian midfielder.
Santos is valued at £50m, so he would be a cheaper alternative to other targets. His duel-winning stats are elite, but his lack of football at Chelsea means that many fans are in the dark about where exactly the 22-year-old is at his best.
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Where is Andrey Santos’ best position?
During his time at Chelsea, Santos has made 47 appearances across various different midfield roles.
Because of his time at Strasbourg, where Santos scored 12 goals in 45 matches, he was profiled as an attacking midfielder initially.
But former manager Enzo Maresca, who is now at Manchester City, was confident that Santos’ best position was actually deeper, playing as a No.6.
As quoted by Chelsea News in November 2025, after a 2-0 win over Burnley, Maresca said: “Yeah, it was a very good performance. Andrey’s [real] position is the position that he played today.”
For context, Santos played deeper in a double pivot of a 4-2-3-1 formation, alongside Enzo Fernandez.
“With us, most of the time he plays a little bit higher, a little bit in the pocket, but it’s because in that position we have Moises, so we try to find solutions, space for Andrey, but we are aware and we know that Andrey’s position is the position that he played today. It was very good,” Maresca added.
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Where Andrey Santos fits into Manchester United’s midfield
Under Michael Carrick, United are expected to continue with a 4-2-3-1 formation similar to the one used last season.
United ideally need a midfielder capable of replacing Casemiro and being the partner of Kobbie Mainoo in the heart of the pitch.
Maresca is confident that Santos is a deep-lying midfielder and his best Chelsea performances came in that position in a formation identical to the one used by Carrick.
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Santos can be expected to fit in on the right side of United’s two-man midfield, partnering Mainoo, with captain Bruno Fernandes ahead of them.
However, Santos’ experience and versatility as a No.10 means he can also add extra depth in that position.
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