When Sir Alex Ferguson announced his retirement back in 2012/23, many Manchester United fans will be worried about the future of the football club.
However, few would have predicted that the Red Devils would go 13 years without a Premier League title – but that is the situation they find themselves in.
Michael Carrick is the latest manager to try to bring success back to Old Trafford, after being appointed as the club’s permanent manager after a short spell.
If the 44-year-old is going to be a success at the Theater of Dreams, he will need to hope that one of his new players will be successful in the coming months.
How Andrey Santos could fit into United’s midfield in 2026/27
As part of Carrick’s bid to secure Premier League glory for United this season, he has approved a £50m deal for midfielder Andrey Santos from rivals Chelsea.
The Brazilian star has penned a five-year contract at Old Trafford until the summer of 2031 and there is no doubt he will be extended, given he is just 22 years old.
The youngster has already featured twice since his subsequent transfer, racking up 106 minutes and in the number six position in front of the backline.
When the Red Devils lost their opening pre-season game against Wrexham, Santos managed to catch the eye – subsequently completing 91% of the passes he attempted.
|
Andrey Santos – stats against Wrexham |
|
|---|---|
|
Mathematics |
Mathematics |
|
Minutes played |
61 |
|
To touch |
56 |
|
Pass accuracy |
91% |
|
He moved on to the final third |
3 |
|
The fight is done |
2 |
|
Ground duels won |
70% |
|
Fouls won |
2 |
|
Ideas made |
3 |
He also made two tackles and was successful in 70% of the tackles he entered – highlighting his incredible ability to disrupt opposition progress.
The Brazilian played a similar role against Rosenborg on Friday night, allowing Mason Mount to play a box-to-box role ahead of him.
His midfielder teammate was complimentary of his display, saying: “I think he’s a really good player…he reads the game very well. He defends a bit, so he allows me to push a bit and work without him. It’s a position I like and see myself in.”
How Man United can secure Santos’ rapid development this summer
Apart from the Santos and Youri Tielemans deals, United are always on the lookout for more midfield confirmations ahead of the upcoming 2026/27 campaign.
Manu Kone and Aurelien Tchouameni have been linked with a move to Old Trafford, and there have been talks with both players these days.
However, Botafogo star Danilo has also been mentioned as a transfer target in recent weeks, and interest in his signature appears to be growing in intensity.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano gave an update on the situation on his YouTube, saying: “Danilo was offered to Manchester United by his club.
“The player has been suggested as a possibility, but the deal is not going ahead at the moment.”
Just because the deal isn’t in the final stages doesn’t mean things can change soon – which could see the Red Devils land a better player than Santos.
The former Forest player was named in Brazil’s World Cup squad in the United States recently, and Carlo Ancelotti undoubtedly sees him as the most useful option at the moment.
Their separate figures for the 2025/26 campaign also highlight Danilo’s dominance over the £50m add-on – which then beats him in a number of key areas for the midfielder.
Despite making just 13 top-flight appearances for Brazil last season, the 25-year-old registered a combined nine goals – eight more than Santos, who made 14 more appearances.
Such numbers highlight his ability to cause carnage in attacking areas – something Casemiro did during his time at Old Trafford despite occupying a deeper position.
His tally of 2.1 chances created per 90 also highlights his ability to create opportunities for those in attacking positions – with the £50m star averaging just 0.6 per 90.
Danilo’s consistent stats place him in the top 5% of all top players in Brazil and he backs up journalist Louis Wheeldon’s comment that he has “amazing” talent.
Even off the ball, the former Forest star had the upper hand on Santos – after that he completed the most rebounds in 90, with his figure of 5.4 in 90, almost double that of his teammate.
It is not clear how much Botafogo will want to sign the 25-year-old, but he has proven to be a player who can have a big impact at Carrick’s senior level.
His previous experience in the Premier League will prompt calls to sign him, and INEOS need to step up their pursuit of his services in the coming weeks.
Santos is a player who will have a big future at Old Trafford given the £50m investment, but he may have to find a place on the bench if Danilo completes his move to Manchester.
