Manchester United are monitoring Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos as manager Michael Carrick searches for solutions to a growing crisis in the centre of the park, with the club's recruitment plans disrupted by injury, competition, and failed negotiations.

A midfield left bare

United entered the summer expecting to sell Manuel Ugarte and replace him. Those plans collapsed when the 25-year-old sustained what he described as "the most serious injury a footballer can face" during Uruguay's World Cup clash against Spain — believed to be cruciate ligament damage that could sideline him beyond 2026.

With Casemiro's contract having expired on 30 June, Kobbie Mainoo is now United's sole recognised central midfielder from the senior group. Unless Carrick's squad is bolstered, Mainoo will be joined only by Mason Mount — regarded as more of an attacking option — when pre-season testing begins on 9 July.

Targets blocked at every turn

United's summer search has been marked by setbacks. Elliot Anderson, their top midfield target, joined Manchester City from Nottingham Forest in a club-record £116 million deal agreed on 25 June. Days later, on 2 July, Tottenham paid West Ham a club-record £85 million for Mateus Fernandes, a player United had pushed hard to sign.

United are understood to have been willing to match that figure — including add-ons — but concluded that any offer they made would simply prompt Tottenham to raise their bid further. West Ham, guided by new co-chair Daniel Kretinsky, held firm to a valuation above £80 million throughout.

A £35 million agreement with Atalanta for Ederson has been reached, though his late inclusion in the Brazil squad means his medical cannot be completed until Carlo Ancelotti's side exit the World Cup — followed by a mandatory three-week rest.

Santos and other options on the table

Santos, 22, made 43 appearances for Chelsea last season and featured prominently under former manager Liam Rosenior at Strasbourg. His profile — a combative, box-to-box midfielder — draws comparisons to Casemiro, though with far less experience at the highest level. BBC Sport reported on 3 July that several clubs are interested, and those close to Santos appear open to a move. A fee of around £50 million has been mentioned.

Alex Scott of Bournemouth is considered United's primary target at this stage, though Arsenal are also keen. The 22-year-old played 37 league games last season as Bournemouth finished sixth — their best-ever Premier League finish — to qualify for the UEFA Europa League. However, the club have stated Scott, who has two years remaining on his contract, is not for sale.

Bournemouth's Tyler Adams, the United States midfielder who has played every significant minute of his country's World Cup campaign, may be more attainable. Unlike Scott, Bournemouth are thought to be open to selling Adams for between £40 million and £50 million, despite his contract also running until 2028.

Felix Nmecha of Borussia Dortmund is another name under consideration. United's director of football Jason Wilcox knows Nmecha well from their shared time at Manchester City, where Wilcox led the academy. Nmecha signed a new Borussia Dortmund contract in March, and United sources say there is currently no proactive pursuit.

Aurelien Tchouameni of Real Madrid, a cornerstone of the France side, is viewed as the most attractive option but almost certainly the most expensive. New Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho is expected to have significant influence over whether Tchouameni moves, and the current indication is that he will remain at the Bernabeu.

Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba, the Cameroon international, was a concrete United target last summer before the move was rebuffed. Interest has cooled, but the groundwork already done could see him resurface as an option. Brighton, however, are formidable negotiators — and no reports suggest their asking price has fallen below £100 million.

United's pre-season schedule escalates quickly, with the first friendly against Wrexham in Helsinki on 18 July followed by a clash with Atletico Madrid in Stockholm on 1 August. Carrick will expect the midfield situation resolved before the serious games begin.