Andrey Santos claims he can replace Casemiro at Man Utd after £50m transfer from Chelsea

ANDREY SANTOS insists he can be the solution to Manchester United’s defensive midfield problem and replace compatriot Casemiro. United bought Santos, 22, from Chelsea in a £50million deal after missing out on Elliot Anderson and Mateus Fernandes. Santos joined United last month Credit: Getty Santos is United’s most expensive signing so far this summer Credit: Getty Santos was billed by United director of football Jason Wilcox as a box-to-box midfielder last month but the Brazilian has occupied a deeper role in United’s pre-season friendlies. United want to sign a third midfielder to offset the departure of Casemiro and long-term injury to Manuel Ugarte, and recently made a fresh enquiry about Aurelien Tchouameni at Real Madrid. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! But Santos has offered to fill the void left by Casemiro, who was released in June. He said: “So my qualities, I like and prefer playing more deep like a number six.” “So I try to help my teammates without the ball and with the ball. I love breaking the lines. “Casemiro, for me he’s like a legend. So now he’s gone from United and now I’m here. So I feel that I can do like Casemiro did in the last season and I’m here to do it.” Santos has started in all four of United’s friendlies and is set to make his full competitive debut in their opening Premier League fixture against Hull City on August 22. Chelsea loaned out Santos four times in three-and-a-half years to Vasco da Gama, Nottingham Forest and Strasbourg before cashing in. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Eyebrows were raised at the initial £48m United paid Chelsea for Santos, who failed to make Brazil’s 26-man World Cup squad. Santos’ longest starting run at Chelsea was six games under Liam Rosenior, who also managed him at Strasbourg. With Santos now primed for a regular starting role at United, he acknowledged he faces a step up from his time as a squad player at Stamford Bridge. He said: “My first week is a little bit funny because you know when you change, so it’s a new club. “But since my first day I feel at home, so I think this is so important for me and for new players as well. “Is it a step up from Chelsea? Yeah, of course. I know Chelsea is a big club as well, so I think thank you for everything Chelsea did for me in my period. “But now Chelsea is gone, here is my home right now. And I want to be here for a long, long time and win so many trophies. “I have my goals and I hope that I can work with my teammates with my goals and and hope to win some trophies.” Comment now