Manchester United are closing in on multiple midfield additions this summer, with Andrey Santos expected to arrive from Chelsea in a £50m deal.
Santos is one of two Brazilian compatriots of Casemiro expected to join, alongside Ederson, as United look to rebuild their engine room under Michael Carrick.
While those deals take shape, another signing has quietly been confirmed in the background, with Colombian teenager Cristian Orozco set to officially join when he turns 18 this month.
United agreed to pay around £850k to Brazilian club Fortaleza last year, securing the youngster’s signature well ahead of his anticipated arrival in Manchester.
Orozco has already flown in for his medical, signalling that the paperwork and formalities are close to being completed ahead of an exciting new chapter.
One notable scout has described the 17-year-old as potentially the “next Casemiro”, a lofty comparison that reflects the enormous expectations surrounding his arrival.
Orozco has only made five senior appearances so far, yet his performances at youth level have generated genuine excitement about his long-term ceiling.
At last year’s U17 World Cup, Orozco averaged three tackles and interceptions per game, as well as six ball recoveries per appearance, remarkable numbers for a player his age.
Those statistics compare favourably with Aurelien Tchouameni, who averaged 6.3 ball recoveries and six tackles and interceptions per game at the recent World Cup.
Meanwhile, any hopes of signing Tchouameni himself appear to have evaporated, with Fabrizio Romano reporting that the Frenchman is set to sign a new Real Madrid contract until 2031.
United officials had reportedly flown out to Spain in an attempt to thrash out a deal, with any potential move expected to cost in excess of £70m.
The club had also been said to have offered Tchouameni a five-year contract on attractive terms, hoping to lure him away from the Spanish capital this summer.
Tchouameni’s situation drew inevitable comparisons to the Frenkie de Jong saga of 2022, when United spent the entire summer chasing a player who ultimately stayed put.
That episode ultimately led United to pivot toward Casemiro himself, who arrived for £70m and went on to score nine Premier League goals last season before departing.
Like the £1m acquisition of Ayden Heaven from Arsenal, Orozco represents the kind of low-risk, high-reward gamble that United are increasingly willing to make on promising young talent.
Orozco averaged 0.8 successful dribbles per game at last year’s U17 World Cup, indicating an ability to progress the ball from deep rather than simply sitting in front of the defence.
The Colombian is described as a genuine presence in the defensive midfield role, capable of protecting the back four while also contributing meaningfully in possession.
He is not expected to walk into Carrick’s first team immediately, with the club viewing him more as a developmental project with significant long-term upside.
Carrick’s track record with developing young talent suggests he is well placed to bring the best out of a raw but gifted teenager like Orozco.
As United continue to reshape their squad, Santos and Orozco represent two very different bets on the future, but both could prove to be inspired additions.