Manchester United are ramping up their midfield overhaul after agreeing a £50m deal with Chelsea for Andrey Santos.
The Brazilian is to undergo a United medical on Thursday and will become the club’s second signing of the summer, following the capture of Éderson from Atalanta.
United will pay an initial £48m for Santos plus a further £2m in achievable add-ons, while Chelsea will retain a 10 per cent sell-on clause for the 22-year-old.
Santos made only 27 league appearances for Chelsea last season, so the deal is regarded as a good one by the club, who have given him permission to travel for his medical.
His chances of more first-team football in the coming season also appear remote after Moisés Caicedo signed a contract extension.
United’s recruitment team identified Santos as a player with vast potential for growth and also previous Premier League experience.
The club have missed out on midfield targets including Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes this summer, and they also showed interest in Sandro Tonali, who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Newcastle.
United intend to adopt a measured approach in this transfer window after securing the return of Champions League football.
With Casemiro leaving the club, central midfield has become a priority and the additions of Santos and Éderson may not be the last signings in that position.
Real Madrid’s Aurélien Tchouaméni is understood to be a serious target, but there are doubts over the size of the transfer fee and whether he will be persuaded to stay in Spain by new manager José Mourinho.