With Chelsea’s season culminating in the controversial Club World Cup this year, the competition will give Blues fans a chance to see Andrey Santos in the first team once more, following a very impressive loan spell at sister club Strasbourg.
The Blues’ season has quickly derailed for Enzo Maresca, following a very encouraging start, and plans are already being put in place for the squad’s shape next season. One of those who will be looking to make an impact is Santos, who is said to be earmarked for a key role in the first team.
Fantastic in France
Santos had previously endured a largely forgettable and frustrating loan spell at Nottingham Forrest, making just one league appearance before cutting it short. However, the 20-year-old has endured a remarkable season in the heart of Strasbourg’s midfield, propelling the club to fifth place in Ligue 1.
The midfielder, who cost a reported £18million from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama back in January 2023, is finally maturing as a footballer and the raw talent, which was evident, has seen him develop into a key box to box midfielder with an eye for a goal. He’s picked up nine goals and one assist in Ligue 1 this season and is on course to be their player of the year.
Maresca’s Midfield Battle
With Santos expected to be competing for spots in the heart of Chelsea’s midfield next season, it does raise the question of where the Brazilian would fit in. £100million plus signings Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo have shown signs of forming the formidable partnership they were signed to do, whilst Roméo Lavia has shown flashes of brilliance in another injury hit campaign. Where Santos would fit in among these three, remains to be seen.
There is also the possibility of Santos playing slightly further forward, but that would necessitate Cole Palmer dropping out wide or rotating in, however this seems unlikely with Chelsea still set to build their team around Englishman. With the likes of Lesley Ugochukwu and January signing Mathis Amougou in contention too, Maresca is going to have a very tricky job balancing all the central midfield options he has at his disposal.
Avoiding Similar Mistakes
In recent weeks, the rumour mill has began circulating that some of Europe’s biggest clubs are interested in Santos. If Chelsea cannot offer the 20-year-old a genuine root to first team football, Chelsea may find themselves in a similar scenario to when they let the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah go, so it will be paramount to integrate the talented youngster into their squad sooner rather than later. It remains to be seen how far Santos can go, but his spell in France has shown Chelsea that they have a serious talent on their books, and one they can build on for the 2025-26 season.
