Man United transfer news: 'Enquiry made' for 21-year-old midfielder during Alejandro Garnacho Chelsea talks

Manchester United have allegedly enquired about the possibility of signing midfielder Andrey Santos during talks with Chelsea over the sale of Alejandro Garnacho.

Approaching the final week of the transfer window, Garnacho and three other members of Man United's 'bomb squad' - Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia - are no closer to leaving Old Trafford.

Garnacho is understood to have given priority to Chelsea, but the Blues are yet to agree a fee with Man United, who are supposedly hoping that another Big Six Premier League club will also enter the race.

However, Garnacho only has eyes for a switch to Stamford Bridge, in spite of the fact that he would face incredibly stiff competition for starts out wide, and that the Blues are also pursuing RB Leipzig's Xavi Simons.

Negotiations between the two clubs are proving complicated, but according to journalist Ben Jacobs - via GIVEMESPORT - Man United recently raised the possibility of Santos heading in the opposite direction.

Man United 'speak about' Santos in Chelsea Garnacho talks

The 21-year-old is back at Stamford Bridge following an extremely productive loan spell with sister club Strasbourg last season, but he was only brought off the bench for the last 11 minutes of Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace on the opening Premier League weekend.

It is unclear whether Man United proposed a swap or part-exchange deal involving Santos and Garnacho, or if the former would be part of a separate transaction, but Jacobs reports that their interest is unlikely to go anywhere.

"What I can tell you is that when discussions have been ongoing for Alejandro Garnacho to Chelsea, Andrey Santos has been spoken about," the journalist reported.

"I don't think it's going to lead anywhere, because Chelsea don't want to sell. That's another player, though, that Manchester United appreciate. It's nothing more than that at this stage."

Santos joined Chelsea on a seven-and-a-half-year contract from Vasco da Gama in January 2023 but has only made five senior appearances for the Blues in all tournaments, having also been loaned back out to the Brazilian side and Nottingham Forest before his Strasbourg stint.

What midfield alternatives can Man United explore?

Unless Santos makes it clear to Chelsea that he is pining for an exit - a fanciful scenario - Man United have missed out on another potential midfield target, and time is running out for Ruben Amorim to bolster his engine room.

A deal for Brighton & Hove Albion's Carlos Baleba is the dream but is also one that will be far too difficult to pull off this summer, while reports linking the Red Devils with Angelo Stiller are understood to be wide of the mark.

Instead, the Red Devils are thought to have taken an interest in Sporting Lisbon's Morten Hjulmand - who worked with Amorim at Sporting Lisbon - and Ederson of Atalanta BC.

More high-profile alternatives include Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga and Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton, but the Eagles will do everything in their power to keep hold of the latter after losing Eberechi Eze to Arsenal.

For the time being, Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes are expected to pair up once again when Man United face Fulham in Sunday's Premier League battle.