Porto want to sign Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos on loan but the Brazilian is expected to stay with Mauricio Pochettino’s squad for pre-season.
Reports suggested the 19-year-old was set to join the Portuguese giants on a season-long loan deal but no exit has yet been sanctioned.
Pochettino is keen to evaluate his one-time Brazil international and will have the final say on whether he makes Chelsea’s senior squad for the upcoming campaign.
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Santos was signed for £16million from Vasco da Gama in January but went immediately back out on loan after failing to secure a work permit.
That loan back in Brazil has been cut short and a US visa has been secured for Santos to take part during a pre-season schedule where they face Wrexham, Dortmund, Newcastle, Brighton and Fulham in America.
The youngster expects to secure his permission to play in the Premier League next season following rule changes and various achievements, including a senior appearance for his national team.
Any decision to select him next season should be based on his footballing merits alone.
Chelsea are also short on midfielders after selling Mason Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Kai Havertz. N’Golo Kante, meanwhile, joined Al-Ittihad on a free transfer.
It leaves opportunities open to Santos if he can grasp it. A lack of European qualification may work against the youngster, however, leaving Chelsea to play just 38 Premier League matches, plus any participation in the domestic cup competitions.
Chelsea are also in talks to sign Brighton midfielder Moises Caicedo and maintain an interest in other options, including Celta Vigo’s Gabri Veiga and Southampton’s Romeo Lavia.
