Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos, who is currently on loan at French side Strasbourg.
The Gunners are set to spend big this summer, with reports suggesting that Mikel Arteta will have over £100m to spend as they look to build a title-winning side after their third consecutive second place.
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Furthermore, they were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG, leaving Arteta trophy-less for yet another season at the Emirates.
They are set to lose midfielder Thomas Partey this summer due to his contract expiring, and Arsenal have reportedly identified a Chelsea player who could help to replace the Ghana international.
Andrey Santos is currently on loan from Chelsea at French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, managed by former Premier League defender Liam Rosenior. Strasbourg are a ‘partner’ team to Chelsea, so the Blues are hoping that Santos develops before he can become a first team player for Enzo Maresca.
According to a report by French outlet Le10Sport, Arsenal and PSG are both considering a move to sign Santos before he can break into Chelsea’s first team, hoping that the level of competition at Stamford Bridge will push the Brazilian away.
He plays as a defensive midfielder meaning that as things stand, he has to compete with the likes of Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia. Whereas, if he was to join Arsenal, he would have far less competition.
The report says that although Santos is expected to be worth just £21m currently, Chelsea could demand a hefty fee for the 21-year-old due to his potential, and his impressive performances for Strasbourg this season.
Who is Andrey Santos?
The midfielder plays centrally, but suits a more holding role due to his ability defensively. This season he’s made 33 appearances for Strasbourg, scoring 10 goals and providing five assists, becoming one of Rosenior’s most prized players.
The Strasbourg manager spoke about Santos during an interview with the Athletic: “Andrey is going to have a magnificent career. You forget how young some of them are. Andrey plays like he’s 32. I call him Dunga (after Brazil’s 1994 World Cup-winning captain): he’s Brazilian but he doesn’t play like one.
“He’s so smart and his stats are through the roof, in terms of scoring goals, winning duels. He’s going to have an outstanding career.”
It would be somewhat of a steal if Arsenal were able to land the 21-year-old from Chelsea, and he could become a real future star in the Premier League.
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