Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
According to reports, the Chelsea star is attracting interest from Inter Milan. Manchester United have also been circling.
Despite many believing the arrival of Liam Rosenior in the Chelsea dugout will favour Santos, he has continued to struggle for consistent playing time.
The lack of starting minutes has led to links away from the West London outfit, with several sides keen on the talented midfielder.
However, Chelsea will be silly to let Santos go for various reasons.
First, the Brazilian has already proven his mettle in France and shown glimpses of his talent in England in a blue shirt.
There is a reason why top European sides are after his signature.
The current downturn in form has affected the whole squad, not just Santos, and the Blues will be unwise to cash in on him now.
Also, he is one of the few success stories of BlueCo’s model of signing young, talented players from across the globe.
Santos, who has been lauded as a ‘soldier’, joined Chelsea from Vasco da Gama for around £19 million and has excelled in Europe.
All signs point to a 21-year-old gem who can develop into a world-class midfielder.
Chelsea will be shooting themselves in the foot if they somehow let go of Santos at this stage of his development.
Third, Enzo Fernandez might be angling to jump ship after recent reports and comments, opening the door for Santos to play more.
He can take the reins from Fernandez, providing a more reliable presence defensively, even though the Argentine’s passing is on another level.
Santos showed at Strasbourg that he can deliver the goods in terms of goals and will be a leading contender to partner with Moises Caicedo in the engine room.
Letting him leave now will not just undermine their long-term project but hand a potential midfield cornerstone to a European rival.
Chelsea must resist the temptation to cash in and instead trust Santos to grow into the role he looks destined to own.