Chelsea arguably possess the best midfield in the Premier League. Their already strong lineup in the middle of the park was further strengthened with the addition of Andrey Santos, who has been brought into the first team fold following an excellent loan campaign at Strasbourg. Moreover, the club are reportedly close to securing a deal for Xavi Simons as well.
However, with so many players operating in the same area, questions have been raised about whether Chelsea might look to engineer some exits in midfield this summer. Notably, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has already left the club to join Everton, and Carney Chukwuemeka is headed to Borussia Dortmund as well.
But there's another midfielder who has recently been linked with a move away, with several clubs showing interest. The player in question is Santos.
With that in mind, Enzo Maresca has recently made a statement that puts an end to the speculation over Santos’ future for now. As reported by BBC, the Chelsea manager said:
"First of all, I am very happy with Andrey and the idea that Andrey stays here with us.
"He can play in Enzo Fernandez or Moises Caicedo's positions for sure. He played one game in the Club World Cup against Palmeiras where he was very good as a number six. So he can play in both positions very well."
Enzo Maresca happy with Andrey Santos and wants the player to stay at Chelsea
Santos spent the previous season at Strasbourg. He turned some heads with impressive performances there that prompted the Blues to give him a chance in the first-team this season.
Santos made his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace. With a long season ahead which includes the Blues’ return to the Champions League, he is expected to play a major role in the club’s midfield.
Chelsea are believed to have previously shut down an approach from Juventus for the player, and this recent statement by Maresca further clarifies the club's position on Santos. At just 21, he has the potential to become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League.
With a strong squad which has depth throughout the pitch, Chelsea will look to compete for multiple trophies moving forward. Now that the season is underway, Maresca’s men will need to remain focused and show their winning intent. We saw a glimpse of that against West Ham United, as they won 5-1 away from home despite going a goal down early.