Manchester United’s summer business is far from over, with the club now exploring a potential deal for Sporting wing-back Maxi Araujo worth up to £69m.
Portuguese outlet A Bola reports that United are among the clubs interested in signing the Uruguay international from Sporting in the current transfer window.
Both Manchester United and Chelsea have made contact with Sporting to explore a potential move for Araujo, though neither club has entered formal talks as of yet.
Sporting are holding firm and want a fee close to the player’s £69m release clause, making this a significant investment for any potential suitor.
The interest in Araujo comes as United’s new signing Andrey Santos made his unofficial debut in a 1-0 pre-season defeat to Wrexham, completing 93% of his passes and winning four of his six ground duels.
Santos joined from Premier League rivals Chelsea in a deal worth up to £50m, with United aiming to replace Casemiro following the expiry of his contract at Old Trafford.
The 22-year-old Brazilian spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Strasbourg in Ligue 1, where he scored ten goals and provided three assists in 32 matches, but he managed only 13 starts from 27 Premier League appearances for Chelsea in 2025/26.
United will be hoping manager Michael Carrick can unlock the form Santos showed at Strasbourg, though his limited Chelsea contribution makes the £50m fee a genuine gamble.
Araujo, by contrast, offers a more proven profile at the highest level, having scored five goals and registered four assists in 29 Liga Portugal appearances for Sporting in 2025/26.
The versatile left-sided player also scored two goals and created four big chances in 11 Champions League matches last season, averaging 5.2 tackles and interceptions per game in European competition.
His World Cup performances for Uruguay further underlined his quality, with Araujo scoring two goals and providing one assist across three appearances on the global stage.
Compared to Luke Shaw, who managed just one goal, one assist, and one big chance created from 38 Premier League appearances last season, Araujo’s attacking output represents a clear upgrade on the left flank.
Araujo won 5.3 duels per game in the Liga Portugal last season compared to Shaw’s 4.4 per game in the Premier League, highlighting his physicality and competitive edge.
His ability to play anywhere down the left flank gives Carrick additional tactical flexibility, something United’s squad currently lacks in that area of the pitch.
With Santos carrying risk due to his inconsistency at Chelsea, landing Araujo would give United a player who has already demonstrated his quality against elite opposition at both club and international level.