Andrey Santos has been told that a return to Nottingham Forest could be an interesting move for him despite his ill-fated first stint.
That is the verdict from European expert Andy Brassell, who believes the midfielder can make himself a cornerstone of Brazil's team.
Andrey Santos in action for Chelsea
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Santos has become of interest to UnitedCredit: Getty
Santos was omitted from Carlo Ancelotti's final 26-man squad following his struggles during his first full season at Chelsea.
The 22-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge from Brazilian outfit Vasco da Gama in January 2023 but has only been a bit-part player.
His debut came during the Blues' Club World Cup triumph last summer, but he made only 13 Premier League starts last season.
Nearly half of those came under his former Strasbourg manager Liam Rosenior, during the latter's four-month tenure at the Chelsea helm.
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Andrey Santos transfer latest
talkSPORT understands that Manchester United are keen on signing Santos, who is said to be valued in the region of £50million.
According to the Daily Mail, talks have commenced between the two clubs over a deal for the 22-year-old.
Newcastle are also understood to be keen on Chelsea's No.17, who is thought to be open to a move as he looks for a starting role.
However, Brassell believes Santos could find exactly that back at Forest, whom he joined on a season-long loan in August 2023.
But after making his debut against Burnley in the Carabao Cup days after his arrival, he played just seven more minutes - in a 3-0 defeat to Liverpool - before Chelsea recalled him in January.
Santos later claimed that his lack of game time at the Reds was 'the coach's choice', with Steve Cooper sacked just before Christmas.
Andrey Santos in a Manchester United shirt.
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Santos is open to a move away from Chelsea
Brassell told talkSPORT.com: "Andrey Santos was too tied to the Liam Rosenior era at Chelsea to survive at Stamford Bridge, but this doesn't mean that it wouldn't be a great signing for another Premier League club.
"Now, Andrey Santos arrived back at Chelsea after his loan at Strasbourg, and Liam Rosenior always lamented this.
"He sat around in press conferences before and after games at Strasbourg going, 'Oh, we could really do with a player like Andrey Santos.' What he meant is we could really do with Andrey Santos, because the minute the Brazilian went, he left a huge hole in the middle of the Strasbourg team.
"Now, we think of him primarily as a defensive midfielder, and he does all that good stuff that you want a defensive midfielder to do.
"He makes his tackles, he makes his passes as well, very, very rarely gives the ball away. So a very modern defensive midfielder, but not just a defensive midfielder.
"In that season at Strasbourg, before he went back to Stamford Bridge, 10 league goals, which is a really, really good effort as well.
So more of an all-roundness to him."
Andrey Santos celebrates for Strasbourg
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The Brazilian was influential in Strasbourg's rise up the Ligue 1 table under RoseniorCredit: AFP
'Cornerstone of this Brazil team'
"Because of the way it hasn't gone for Brazil in this World Cup, his development over the next couple of years is really in Carlo Ancelotti's, presumably, and the Brazilian national team's interest as well.
"Casemiro is not the athlete he once was, I think it's fair to say, even though he had a great back end of last season with Manchester United.
"Andrey Santos, only 22 years old, really good at covering ground, and Brazil are really short in midfield.
"So if he can get this next move right, and of course, a heck of a lot of midfield competition at Chelsea and more to come, perhaps, he can make himself a cornerstone of this Brazil team."
Andrey Santos celebrates for Strasbourg.
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Santos excelled during his loan spell at StrasbourgCredit: AFP
Return to Nottingham Forest?
Brassell added: "Now, it's funny, I think straight away, Nottingham Forest, despite the fact he went there, it didn't work out, and he left what seemed like five minutes later.
"I think that would be an interesting move for him. There are a lot of different Premier League clubs where he would work actually.
"And I wonder if even in a different context, without the players that they have at the moment, and a big question mark over Rodri's future, he would even work at, say, a Manchester City.
"I certainly think he's got the level to aspire to that sort of club going forward. I think he would be an interesting back-up for Arsenal."
"If they're looking for a way to allow Declan Rice to play on the front foot a little bit more to release him from his defensive responsibilities, because I really do feel that Andrey Santos, with time, is going to have the level to play at one of the very best clubs in Europe.
"Whether that's realistic, I think, is a question, because at the moment, he's proven himself in Ligue 1; he hasn't proven himself in the Premier League."
Andrey santos stats at Nottingham Forest
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Santos returned to Chelsea after playing just seven minutes during a failed loan at ForestCredit: Getty
Santos featured on 47 occasions across all competitions last term, but is behind Moisés Caicedo and Enzo Fernández in the pecking order.
He captained Brazil at youth level, but has played just six times for their senior side following his struggles to break through in SW6.
Brassell explained: "It just makes you think from a Chelsea perspective, maybe if you can cope with the financial pinch, maybe loan him out this year, maybe make him prove himself in the Premier League at another club.
"Then from there, sell him on for prime money, because the fact is, once he's proved he can play as a number six in the Premier League, you're going to have teams all over you looking to give you a lot of money.
"So I feel that that could be the play for Chelsea going into next season.
"Now, as I said, going back to the beginning, because he was sort of ordained as Rosenior's lieutenant on the pitch from the very beginning, I think that pushed him into sort of quite an awkward position, when before that, he'd been gradually settling at Chelsea.
"Whereas now, post-Rosenior, it feels like he's yesterday's news. Now, none of this is Andrey Santos' fault.
Chelsea's Brazilian midfielder #17 Andrey Santos (2L) celebrates scoring the team's fifth goal during the English FA Cup quarter final football match between Chelsea and Port Vale at Stamford Bridge in London on April 4, 2026
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Man United first enquired about Santos last summer when Chelsea signed Alejandro GarnachoCredit: Getty
"I think it's really, really unfortunate for him because he never asked for any of this. All he did was go to Strasbourg, do his best, play a really good season, and then go from there.
"But I think now he does need to strike out on his own. And maybe another option, in fact, if we're talking about loans, would be Aston Villa.
"They've just lost Amadou Onana to that ACL injury, which is a real choker for them, especially as Onana is such a valuable player.
"It doesn't seem like they really have the money to go out there and buy a replacement.
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"So maybe a loan with even an option to buy would be something that would suit Villa going forward into this next Premier League season.
"But wherever he goes, Andrey Santos, I just hope he gets an opportunity to play every week or almost every week so he can prove for himself and for Brazil just how good he is."