Chelsea have been trying to sign Granit Xhaka, the former Arsenal captain, from Sunderland at the behest of Xabi Alonso, as the Swiss international was the Spanish manager’s key leader in the Bundesliga when his Bayer Leverkusen made history by going undefeated.
While the Blues have been able to avoid losing their own star No. 6, Enzo Fernandez, with Real Madrid dropping out of the race for the 2022 World Cup hero, they could lose a young gem from the midfield.
David Ornstein of The Athletic has confirmed that Manchester United are exploring a deal to sign Andrey Santos away from Chelsea, and he says that the Red Devils have even made enquiries to the agents of the player, as have other clubs.
The 22 year old Brazilian appears to want out, but his transfer will hinge on the price. Ornstein says that Man United want him but at the right price, while Chelsea will sell if the terms suit them.
But the craziest part is just that: Ornstein is saying that Chelsea are open to selling one of the best U23 midfielders in the world to a Premier League Big Six club, just as long as the financial terms are fitting.
That speaks volumes and either means Chelsea have another plan in the middle of the park to replace Santos, or maybe they do not believe in him as a future superstar despite how great he was for Strasbourg previously in Ligue 1.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.