Chelsea youth star Andrey Santos has been denied a work permit by just a single point, despite starring for his country in the most recent youth championships, leaving him set for a return to Brazil for the rest of 2023.
Santos won the U-20 South American championships with Brazil earlier in February, grabbing 6 goals to finish as joint-top goalscorer in the competition in the process, which was thought to be enough to earn him a work permit to complete the move to Chelsea that had been agreed in January.
However, the Daily Mail report that the 18-year-old ‘missed out by just one point, because of the other midfielders that the Blues have brought’, meaning that he will not be able to play for Chelsea this season despite being signed in January in order to bolster their midfield ranks.
‘Santos is still in the same place. We’re looking at what the options are for him’, Potter explained ahead of his side’s clash with Southampton on Saturday afternoon.
And it seems as though the most likely option as it stands is a return to Brazil, amid reports that a loan deal with Serie A side Palmeiras has been agreed should a work permit not be granted, with Chelsea still fighting to change the fortunes of the teenager.
Any deal would see Santos head out on loan to the Brazil side, who are rivals of the Vasco de Gama outfit that he joined the Blues from last month, with the deal expected to last until December.
