Chelsea make January transfer decision to boost midfield options for Mauricio Pochettino
Chelsea are looking to recall Andrey Santos from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest in the January transfer window, football.london understands. The 19-year-old midfielder has only been used twice by Forest in all competitions since moving to the City Ground in the summer.
Santos' only start under Steve Cooper came in the Carabao Cup, with his solitary Premier League appearance lasting just seven minutes. After signing the Brazilian teenager in January from Vasco da Gama, he joined up with his new Chelsea teammates in the summer and impressed during the club's pre-season tour of the United States.
There were some people who were calling for Santos to stay in and around the Chelsea first-team squad for the season and fight for his place. However, following the double arrival of Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, Mauricio Pochettino decided to send Santos on loan elsewhere in the Premier League.
But the club are now expected to recall the Brazilian from the loan spell as he has not got anywhere near the number of minutes they had hoped for. However, this is only expected to be the case should Santos not reach a certain amount of appearances for Forest by the time January rolls around.
What the club will do with Santos should he be recalled, as expected, remains to be seen. There is a chance the teenager will stay at Stamford Bridge and fight for his place against the likes of Lavia, Caicedo, Conor Gallagher, Lesley Ugochukwu and Enzo Fernandez, but competition is stiff in midfield.
During pre-season, Santos was often used in a double pivot but was allowed to free roam somewhat in midfield. He can operate in a deep-lying midfield position but he is also equally as comfortable when looking to advance up the pitch.
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