Andrey Santos is an unavoidable and unignorable name in European football. He is one of the top performing players on the continent and has perhaps been the best midfielder in Ligue 1 this season.
With nine goals (five since the turn of the year) and now donning the captain's armband, this 20-year-old is delivering on much of the promise. When signed by Chelsea in 2023 for a fee which could rise to £18million, Santos was one of the first in a youth recruitment drive under the Clearlake Capital-Todd Boehly ownership which is yet to stop.
Now, 12 months into his loan at RC Strasbourg after spending the end of last season in France as well, Santos looks ready for Premier League football. It is remarkable, turning back the clock, that he was not given the chance to prove himself at Nottingham Forest.
Santos has put that behind him, though, and has instead forged a different path to beating down the door of the Chelsea first team squad. After impressing during pre-season under both Mauricio Pochettino and in brief flashes for Enzo Maresca, there is little doubt that he has earned a proper chance this summer.
The expectation is that Santos will join Chelsea for a full assessment, potentially for the Club World Cup. Questions surrounding his future have arisen regardless.
Many are concerned that Chelsea will face a serious battle to keep Santos amid interest from European giants. Chelsea could no doubt turn a tidy profit on Santos, which has been a key facet of the Clearlake-Boehly regime to date, and comments made in mid-March by the Brazilian only enhanced that.
"A lot of people send me news [about staying at Chelsea], but I don't think there's anything concrete like that," he said. "For the sceptics, this was a big reason to press the panic button.
"No one has come to me directly and spoken to me. It's in Chelsea's hands, it's in my agents' hands, it's in my hands." The fear is understandable, with Santos remaining coy on over committing.
"At the moment I'm focused on these last few games, which are very important for Strasbourg," he continued. "When the season ends, we'll see what happens, everyone will sit down and talk to make the best decision for both sides."
Then again, Santos also spoke highly of being alongside Estevao Willian at Chelsea over the summer. He will arrive from Palmeiras and is another who will hope to get a place in the senior squad.
"Estevao is a top-quality player, world-class," Santos added. "I'm a good friend of Savinho [from Manchester City], he said he's a great person. God willing, he'll go far and we can create a great duo at Chelsea, a duo of Brazilians."
He will still wait before deciding what is next in his career. "Of course you want to play for the biggest clubs in Europe, for a very big club like Chelsea. Of course you dream of that moment, but I think the moment is to have a clear head, finish the season here to make the best choice when the season is over."
Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos celebrates scoring on loan at RC Strasbourg
Andrey Santos is in stellar form (Image: Sathiri Kelpa/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
Maresca has so far seen things the same way. In January, the Chelsea head coach was asked about recalling Santos to cover for Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez. With Romeo Lavia being ruled out until the final 10 matches (he has now returned) it left very little room for manoeuvre, especially as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is often left unused.
Santos' services were not seen as being a priority, though. "No, we have in this moment, enough players to cover that situation with Moi, Enzo and Kiernan. The intention is not to go for one more midfielder.”
Chelsea would eventually sign Mathis Amougou from Saint-Ettiene on deadline day, although he is expected to join Strasbourg on loan in the summer. He has hardly been used since moving for £14million.
Dario Essugo has also been picked up from Sporting CP (he is on loan at Las Palmas) and will come in to compete at the end of the season. Santos is the player with the standout record for the year, though, and speaking in November Maresca admitted he is already on the radar.
"Andrey Santos shows what we have said already many times, probably for some players; it is better they go and prove themselves and then they can come back. Now is too early but if he continues in the way he is playing, then he could be an option for us."
Santos has only gotten better as the season has gone on. He is closing in on 100 senior appearances before his 21st birthday and has been captaining a youthful Strasbourg team of late as well.
He is demonstrating all the skills and qualities which led Chelsea to sign him as an 18-year-old prospect. This same blend of freakishly all-round talents have now made him the centre of attention, speculation, celebration, and concern all at once. That is Santos and that is who Chelsea will have to wait to have a real feel for later this year.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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