{"id":16527,"date":"2026-07-11T23:23:37","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T23:23:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16527"},"modified":"2026-07-11T23:23:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-11T23:23:37","slug":"man-utd-news-doubts-emerge-as-50m-transfer-target-has-medical-and-star-makes-contract-claim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=16527","title":{"rendered":"Man Utd news: Doubts emerge as \u00a350m transfer target has medical and star makes contract claim"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_3d5bec\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Manchester United&#8217;s chances at landing one signing this summer have been boosted after he confirmed a clause in his current contract<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37390018\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Andrey Santos of Chelsea celebrates scoring the winning goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37390018.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_Chelsea-v-Tottenham-Hotspur-Premier-League.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37390018.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/1_Chelsea-v-Tottenham-Hotspur-Premier-League.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37390018.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/1_Chelsea-v-Tottenham-Hotspur-Premier-League.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37390018.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/1_Chelsea-v-Tottenham-Hotspur-Premier-League.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Man United's move for Andrey Santos has been called into question\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Man United&#8217;s move for Andrey Santos has been called into question<cite aria-label=\"Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Visionhaus, Visionhaus\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Manchester United&#8217;s summer spending is about to take off as the club stands on the verge of not one but two major midfield signings. However, there&#8217;s more to come from Michael Carrick&#8217;s squad in the transfer window as another target campaigns for a move.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">With the World Cup entering the business stage, an increasing number of players are now starting to sort out their club affairs. And two players in particular appear to be inches from signing on the dotted line in a double deal that will cost close to \u00a3100million.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The investments won&#8217;t stop there, however, as speculation mounts over another target who was recently in World Cup action. <em>Mirror Football <\/em>rounds up the latest United headlines this weekend.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><strong class=\"Strong_strong__e2x35\">FOLLOW OUR MAN UTD FB PAGE! Latest United news and more on our dedicated Facebook page<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_658955\">Andrey Santos concerns<\/h3>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">United are reportedly on the cusp of signing Andrey Santos with the midfielder undergoing his medical ahead of a \u00a350m transfer on Friday. However, not everyone linked to Old Trafford is a fan of the signing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That&#8217;s after Old Trafford icons Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt raised doubts over the player&#8217;s profile and whether he&#8217;s ready for a starting berth under Carrick. The 22-year-old made 43 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea last season, though that seemingly isn&#8217;t enough to convince the United duo he&#8217;s ready to lead at the Theatre of Dreams.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Speaking on The Good, The Bad &#038; The Football podcast, Scholes questioned the investment given Santos&#8217; limited Premier League experience: &#8220;Where\u2019ve they seen him play enough games? United aren\u2019t in the position to be buying players for the future at this point.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Butt cast further doubt over the signing and added: &#8220;He\u2019s young and he\u2019s for the future. It\u2019s a surprise because we\u2019ve been looking at big hitters coming in but we\u2019re looking at his potential.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;The big thing for me is if he\u2019s been brought in to come and start for us, United and Carrick don\u2019t have time to let people bed in.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContentsEmbed_affiliate-contents-container__oTiet\" data-testid=\"affiliate-contents-embed\">\n<div data-testid=\"affiliate-content\" class=\"AffiliateContent_affiliate-content-container__10EX_ affiliate-content\">\n<p>Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-disclaimer__dG5ST\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateDisclaimer_affiliate-text__8nmDa\">This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM AffiliateContent_content-details__U6C2M AffiliateContent_has-content-img___LY95\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_content-image__FxPNL\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article33404045.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s510b\/0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"AffiliateContent_section-container__JMDzM\">\n<div id=\"product-description\" class=\"AffiliateContent_section-content__QCkL9\">\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside <!-- -->Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It&#8217;s worth noting Santos, who looks set to join alongside compatriot Ederson, has been competing with more than \u00a3200m worth of midfield talent in Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo at Stamford Bridge. If anything, however, it&#8217;s impressive he still managed to clock such significant game time with such high-calibre names as his rivals.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Santos previously spent an unremarkable five months on loan at Nottingham Forest in the first half of the 2023\/24 campaign. He was only 19 at the time, however, and is clearly a different player today following his loan stay at Strasbourg followed by his Blues breakthrough.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Complementing the influx of other Brazilian and Portuguese-speaking talents at the club, Santos could be part of a new generation of samba style in Manchester. However, there are those around the club who will require some convincing.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"HeadingThree_heading-three__PBHLs  __className_658955\">Star makes contract claim<\/h3>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37415265\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37415265\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.4998531571218796\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Orlando Gill of Paraguay reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round Of 16 match between Paraguay and France at Philadelphia Stadium\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37415265.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_GettyImages-2285209161.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37415265.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/1_GettyImages-2285209161.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37415265.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/1_GettyImages-2285209161.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37415265.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/1_GettyImages-2285209161.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Orlando Gill has given an update on his situation\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Orlando Gill has given an update on his situation<cite aria-label=\"Image: Image Photo Agency\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Image Photo Agency\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Orlando Gill has confirmed the existence of a clause in his contract that may just open the door for a move to United. The Paraguay goalkeeper is reportedly on the Red Devils&#8217; radar following a string of heroic displays against the likes of Germany and France at the World Cup.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">United supposedly want fresh competition for No. 1 stopper Senne Lammens and could rival Aston Villa to sign Gill. Argentinian newspaper Clarin has reported Gill&#8217;s current club, San Lorenzo, is in nearly \u00a350m of debt, which could simplify United&#8217;s job.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The outlet also reported Gill has a release clause in his contract allowing him to leave for around \u00a35.2m. And the 26-year-old appeared responsive to a potential move when quizzed about the recent surge in rumours.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Addressing the matter after returning to Paraguay this month, Gill said: &#8220;I can\u2019t say yes or no. They told me there is interest, but not a formal offer. I don\u2019t want to get carried away. We\u2019ll sit down and speak with the club to see what is best.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He continued: &#8220;I have a clause in my contract and I think it has to be respected. Then it depends on the club. If it\u2019s good for both parties, we\u2019ll have to reach an agreement.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A summer move to Old Trafford may not have been the outcome Gill expected when he departed for the World Cup in June. However, that&#8217;s the potential impact of starring on the elite stage for all the world to see.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><em>Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Manchester United&#8217;s chances at landing one signing this summer have been boosted after he confirmed&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16528,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16527","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chelsea"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16527","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16527"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16527\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16527"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16527"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16527"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}