Manchester United have completed their £48m purchase of Andrey Santos from Chelsea and are closing in on the surprise signing of Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans after a move for Ederson was put on hold.
United are set to activate a release clause and to get the Belgium captain for around £35m, in a blow to Unai Emery.
Tielemans will become the second addition in Michael Carrick’s summer midfield overhaul, with Santos’ arrival formalised and the 22-year-old putting pen to paper on a five-year contract.
United had been set to sign Brazil international Ederson from Atalanta for £35m, agreeing a fee with the Serie A club and with the intention of conducting a medical and completing the transfer in July.
Ederson was then a late call-up to Brazil’s World Cup squad and a medical was arranged in the United States which indicated an issue.
United then did a full medical this week, following Brazil’s elimination from the World Cup, which led them to decide not to proceed at the current price and agreement.
United are sympathetic to Ederson and have not ruled out going back in for the 27-year-old.
But they switched their attentions to Tielemans, who was Villa’s player of the year in 2024-25 and who scored in their Europa League final win over Freiburg in May.
While it would bring a sizeable profit for Villa, who recruited the 29-year-old on a free transfer from Leicester three years ago and have had issues complying with PSR regulations, his departure would give Emery added problems in midfield after Amadou Onana sustained a cruciate ligament injury during Belgium’s run to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
Villa are, however, set to sign Switzerland’s Johan Manzambi, who had seemed bound for Newcastle until they intervened.
Meanwhile, Santos has become the first buy Carrick has made as United manager and the Brazilian said the chance to work with one of the club’s most decorated midfielders was a reason to join.
“Everything about Manchester United is special; it is an incredible feeling to join a club that some of my biggest idols have represented,” he said.
“As a midfielder, I am really excited to have the opportunity to learn from Michael Carrick, he is the perfect coach to help me take the next step in my career and push to achieve my dreams.
“Everybody told me about how ambitious the club is and the amazing environment that has been created here. I know just how strong the squad is and I cannot wait to fight together to compete for the biggest trophies.”
United’s director of football Jason Wilcox added: “Andrey is an outstanding midfielder with excellent technical qualities and the ability to impact the game at both ends of the pitch. He was a key target for us in an important position.
“Despite already having extensive experience, leadership abilities and proving his talent at the highest level, Andrey still has enormous potential to develop further, and we cannot wait to see him flourish at Manchester United.”