Manchester United might be about to add another Chelsea midfielder to their ranks in Andrey Santos, and he helps Mason Mount, who came before him.
The latest target to emerge from the hubris of lost races for Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes for Man Utd is Chelsea’s Andrey Santos.
Santos is an exciting prospect, and his unique skill set also makes him an intriguing option to replace Casemiro.
He will want to do better than the last Chelsea player to sign for the club, Mason Mount, but Mount could also find a new level upon seeing Santos’ arrival.
Man Utd are looking at signing Andrey Santos from Chelsea… What is your verdict?
What is your advice to Ineos on the state of the transfer window so far?
Andrey Santos can set a standard for Mason Mount
By the end of the season, Michael Carrick started using Mount in an interesting new role as one of the two deeper midfielders in a pivot of 4-2-3-1.
It goes without saying that if and when Santos arrives at Old Trafford, he’ll be an option for that position, but that’s not where the challenge lies.
The real challenge lies in the narrative of what Santos’ arrival could mean for Mount, considering the two “Chelseas” they will leave to join United.
Mount arrived from a UCL-winning team, being one of their key players, and has gone on to crash and burn at Man Utd by falling well below expectations.
Santos, in contrast, will arrive from a Chelsea squad that failed to even qualify for any European competition, let alone win the biggest one.
Mount has a new standard to achieve with Santos’ arrival, determined to prove himself as a far better player, coming from a better Chelsea team.
Getting usurped by a 22-year-old midfielder at Man Utd who joined from a Chelsea team far worse than the one he left would be the final nail in the coffin of his United career.
Mount proving that he’s better than Santos has to be a non-negotiable, and the Brazilian’s arrival could drive him to a new level because it’s almost a personal rivalry in the larger context.
Mount faces judgement season at Man Utd
Santos’ signing will give Mount another reason to make good on his transfer, but even if he doesn’t sign, Mount has plenty of reasons to do so.
Is Mason Mount out of time at Manchester United?🕰️
How much would United even be able to get for him?💰
He’s been at United for three seasons now and hasn’t been able to establish himself as a reliable squad option, let alone a first-team player.
The only reason why he’s still here is that no other team will pay his wages, based on how the last three seasons have gone.
His contract expires in 2028, so another season like the past three will surely have Ineos deciding to send him on loan for the last year of his contract, as they did with Jadon Sancho.
He’s a model professional who earns the trust of coaches, but at some point, United will want the return on their investment on the pitch.
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