Because of all the money Chelsea have spent rebuilding their midfield under BlueCo, the idea of Andrey Santos leaving in the summer makes little sense.
It has taken some time for the 22-year-old to get up and running. He had to prove himself during two loan spells with Strasbourg and Nottingham Forest before being given a run in the Chelsea first team.
And surprisingly, despite playing well in recent weeks, Santos has been linked with leaving Stamford Bridge in the summer with recent reports suggesting the Blues could cash in on him and/or Romeo Lavia.
However, judging by what the Brazilian has said about his future, it seems he has no intention of leaving West London.
Andrey Santos still fully invested in Chelsea
Santos has admitted during a recent interview with ESPN that he has been surprised by Chelsea’s struggles this season despite the amount of quality within the squad.
The young midfielder made it clear he still believes this group are capable of acheving much more moving forward, though.
"Yes, I am surprised because we know we have a lot of players with quality.
But in the Premier League, it is a little bit hard. We know we can do more, maybe next season. But this season isn’t finished yet."
Santos has been linked with a surprise switch to Manchester United but is clearly desperate to prove himself at Stamford Bridge despite the speculation.
Selling him this summer could backfire
Unlike some of Chelsea’s younger players, there is something about Santos that already feels naturally suited to English football. He plays aggressively, competes well in duels and doesn't look intimidated by the pace of the game.
Chelsea have looked too easy to play through at times this season, particularly in midfield, so having a player like Santos available has been a positive at times.
Fans have already witnessed the club move on from talented young players way too early before, and they won't want a repeat with their number 17.
The Premier League is difficult for young midfielders. Santos himself has admitted that, but his comments don't sound like a player doubting himself or struggling mentally with the challenge.
If anything, the midfielder sounds like a player determined to prove he belongs at one of Europe's biggest clubs.
Since his move from Brazilian club Vasco da Gama in 2023, Santos, who has four years left on his contract, has directly involved in seven goals in 46 games in all competitions.
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