The £60m rising star West Ham could snatch from a rival - if Man Utd don't get there first
The two Premier League clubs could go head-to-head for a midfield transfer target - who just so happens to play for a rival of both.
West Ham United have seven games left to save their Premier League status and will hope to come back firing after the international break in order to rise out of the relegation zone.
The Hammers have seen an upturn in form of late but a 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa on Sunday ensured that they stayed in 18th place despite Tottenham Hotspur’s heavy defeat at home to Nottingham Forest. West Ham’s summer business will likely depend highly on which division they find themselves, with big-name sales expected if they are relegated.
Manchester United, meanwhile, remain in third place despite dropping points at Bournemouth on Friday night and are currently on course to secure Champions League football under Michael Carrick. The Red Devils are weighing up a significant list of transfer targets of their own and might ultimately compete with the Hammers for a midfield signing this summer.
West Ham and Man United target Andrey Santos move amid uncertain future
According to reports by Caught Offside, both West Ham and Man United are amongst the sides interested in Andrey Santos as Chelsea prepare to make a ‘big decision’ on the future of the 21-year-old midfielder this summer.
Sources close to the agents industry have reportedly told Caught Offside that the Brazilian has an uncertain future at Stamford Bridge despite an impressive first season since returning from a previous loan spell with sister club Strasbourg. Despite his ‘enhanced’ reputation this term both within the Stamford Bridge club and externally, it remains unclear whether he will stay in west London for the long-term or become a high-profile departure to balance finances.
Reporting continues that both West Ham and Man United have been ‘repeatedly linked’ with the Brazilian, while there is significant interest in Italy from the likes of Inter Milan and Juventus. Reporting from Calcio Mercato states that Inter have held ‘summits’ with the agents of the player, both recently and prior to the start of the season, while the Blues rejected a €50m (£43m) approach from the Saudi Pro League last summer. Caught Offside cite that Santos is highly-rated internally at Chelsea but is valued at between £51m-£60m, making him one of the most valuable sellable assets currently at the club.
Could Santos move to a Premier League rival this summer?
Santos offers a valuable midfield profile, both defensively disciplined and capable of progressing the ball, and it makes sense that he would be in high demand if made available by Chelsea this summer.
West Ham may view him as an upgrade on many of their current midfield options and he could form a formidable partnership with Mateus Fernandes, if the Hammers stay up and keep hold of the Portuguese. The 21-year-old pair could become a midfield staple at the London Stadium for years to come, alongside other options such as Freddie Potts, and allow the Hammers to enter a new era with an established young core.
At Old Trafford, meanwhile, midfield reinforcements are viewed as a summer priority and Santos has been a name frequently linked with the club as they aim to bring in at least two top-quality options in the middle of the park. Strength in depth will be a necessity if the Red Devils are to return to the Champions League and Santos could blend well with the likes of Kobbie Mainoo in the United engine room, though Casemiro is expected to move on. Whether Chelsea do ultimately sanction Santos’ departure to a Premier League rival this summer will be intriguing to see.